Visa Europe and Orange have announced a partnership to encourage the use of mobile-based contactless payments in France.

They’re starting by launching a service called Orange Cash, which will enable Orange customers with an NFC-equipped smartphone to make contactless payments.

Ofcom has published the results of its assessment into whether or not the UK’s ‘big four’ mobile phone networks have met their 3G coverage obligations.

Although the 3G 2100MHz mobile spectrum licences originally only required networks to cover 80% of the UK population with 3G service, the government later increased this obligation to 90% population coverage. The deadline for meeting this requirement was 30th June 2013.

Twitter is valuing itself at $14.2 billion (£8.8 billion) when it launches on the New York stock exchange today. It’s pricing its Initial Public Offering of 70 million shares at $26 each, which will raise $1.82 billion.

The micro-blogging site had previous estimated a price range of $17-$20 per share and later increased that to $23-$25.

Technology manufacturer Acer says that its chairman and CEO, JT Wang, has resigned. He’ll remain in his role as chairman until the end of June, although Corporate President Jim Wong will take over as CEO from January.

The company is also putting a restructuring plan into operation.

It looks like BlackBerry is safe for the moment... but not with the takeover many had expected.

Meanwhile Google launches the Nexus 5, Nortel's patents are sent into battle, EE promises ever-faster 4G, the FAA allows electronic devices to be used throughout flights and we celebrate a record quarter for smartphone shipments.