In this week's podcast we hear that Comet has gone into administration and that Japanese tech manufacturer Sharp is struggling to survive.

There's also concern about the security of some Android apps, some changes afoot at O2 and a new favourite device at WiFi hotspots.

Smartphones have now overtaken laptops as the most-used device for connecting to WiFi hotspots. That’s the conclusion of a new survey compiled by research company Informa Telecoms & Media and published by the Wireless Broadband Alliance.

It says the trend is set to accelerate as new Next Generation Hotspots are deployed because this equipment allows a secure connection without needing usernames or passwords.

Google has revealed three new Nexus-branded Android devices and an update to the Android mobile operating system. Its announcement was made online after a planned press conference in New York was cancelled due to the threat from Hurricane Sandy.

The new devices are expected on 13th November and will run Android v4.2, still known by the same codename as version 4.1: ‘Jelly Bean’.

ABI Research has published new findings that show 49 million mobile broadband modems were shipped worldwide during the first half of 2012. Most were included in USB models, while others were ‘embedded’ in laptops or other consumer electronics devices.

Overall, 62% of shipments were USB modems

Virgin Media says its WiFi service on the London Underground is to remain free for the rest of this year. The service was originally expected to introduce ‘pay as you go’ charging after the 2012 Games ended.

It’s also announced that 27th September was the first day Virgin Media’s WiFi service delivered over one million individual online sessions on the Tube.