ABI Research has calculated that 3.8 billion mobile handsets will contain mobile web browsers by 2015. That's slightly more than 60% of all mobile phones in 2015… and is double today's penetration of mobile browsers. In addition, the number of full internet browsers is expected to exceed that of proxy-based browsers in 2012.

More than 321 million mobile handsets were shipped globally in the second quarter of 2010, according to ABI Research. That's an increase of 5.9% on the previous quarter and 19.4% year-on-year.

Figures from Strategy Analytics differ slightly; they've calculated a 13% year-on-year growth to 308 million devices.

ABI Research says that data usage in Western Europe and North America from 2009 until 2015 is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42% and 55% respectively.

However, this increase in data traffic is not being matched by a rise in data revenues for network operators. Mobile data revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of only 18% in North America, restricted in part by the popularity of 'unlimited' or 'fixed price' tariffs.

London-based market research company Opinium has been talking to UK consumers following well-reported problems with Apple's iPhone 4. It found that 57% of consumers in the UK were aware of the recent 'Antennagate' iPhone issues reported in the press. 42% of people disagreed with the statement that Apple produces fault free mobile phones and 50% agreed that Apple’s mobile phones are too expensive for what they are.

A new research report from analyst firm Berg Insight calculates that the number of smart electricity meters installed in Europe will reach 111.4 million at the end of 2015. That's a compound annual growth rate of 17.9% from 2009.

The report identifies France, Spain and the UK as the next countries in Europe where smart metering will become introduced.