We start this week's show by discussing the recent quarterly results from Google, Nokia, Vodafone and Microsoft.

There's also time to talk about SIM security, Ubuntu's crowd-funded smartphone, the HTC One mini, smart watches and an unusual process for recharging your phone battery.

Google has announced its quarterly results for the three months until 30th June 2013. Revenue was up 19% year-on-year to $14.11 billion and net income was up 16% to $3.23 billion, although operating income was down slightly to $3.12 billion.

Revenue at Motorola Mobile increased to $998 million, although operating losses grew to $342 million.

Samsung has put a 10x optical zoom lens on a smartphone, Google is acquiring navigation app Waze and the European Commission is getting ready to equip cars with an emergency call system.

We're also talking about a strike threat at O2, the risk of 'showrooming' to high-street retailers, the end of Symbian smartphones and plenty more as well.

Google has announced a new trial scheme that could provide internet access in remote areas. Instead of using satellite connections, it’s looking into the possibility of putting communications equipment on balloons.

These balloons would be in the stratosphere at about twice the altitude of commercial aircraft and would offer data speeds that were similar to 3G networks.

Mark Bridge writes:

The telecommunications industry was making plenty of headlines last week – but much of it wasn’t particularly upbeat.

The debate about privacy and security continued in the wake of allegations about US agents intercepting internet traffic. Meanwhile, Nokia prepared to make its last Symbian smartphones and Tradedoubler warned that mobile devices were having a negative effect on high-street consumer loyalty.