Research company comScore has published smartphone uptake figures for Europe. It says the UK market grew by 70% in the last year to more than 11 million smartphone users. That splits into a 76% growth in smartphone users spending less than £35 a month; 60% growth in higher-priced monthly tariffs.

Italy has the largest number of smartphone subscribers overall - 15 million – but only saw 11% growth in the last 12 months.

In the five countries surveyed, Italy had the highest proportion of smartphone users – 32% – followed by Spain with 28.3%, the UK with 22.9%, Germany with 16.5% and finally France with 15.2%.

New figures from the Mobile Marketing Association and Lightspeed Research show that 23% of UK adult consumers expect to use mobile banking this year. That's a considerably higher figure than Germany (15%) and France (12%).

14% of UK consumers and 9% of French & German adult consumers are already using mobile banking services. Younger consumers are particularly keen; currently 24% of 18-34 year olds in the UK use m-banking. SMS is the most popular medium for delivering mobile banking services in all three countries, followed by the mobile internet, and viewing account balances is the most popular feature.

Hutchison Whampoa company INQ Mobile has released UK usage data from the INQ1 handset, which has become known as the Facebook phone.

Apparently 65% of INQ1 customers are now using Facebook, with most of them going online at least daily.

The Fonecast returns to its usual format this week, catching up on industry headlines including Ikea’s virtual network, new mobile music services and a surprising survey. There’s also time in the podcast for a quick preview of the new Sony Ericsson T700.