Wireless communications trade organisation CTIA-The Wireless Association has announced that it’s been working with the US federal government, law enforcement agencies and a number of its members to help deter smartphone thefts and protect consumer data.

It’s introducing four voluntary industry commitments: implementing a database that’ll keep stolen phones offline, encouraging consumers to set up security on their new devices, informing users about ‘remote control’ security options and educating people about phone theft risks.

This week’s podcast from The Fonecast starts with impressive quarterly results from Apple, along with figures from Samsung, Motorola and Nokia as well. We then move on to some of the other stories that have been hitting the headlines, including O2’s UK privacy problem and a new ‘unlimited internet’ tariff from T-Mobile.

As usual, you can listen to this week’s podcast on our website audio player, via iTunes, by using our RSS feed or by downloading the MP3.

The National Audit Office, which publishes reports about UK public spending on behalf of Parliament, says a scheme to equip frontline police officers with mobile devices has not achieved value for money.

Around £80 million has been spent on smartphones and PDAs, with current calculations suggesting they’ve helped officers spend an average 18 minutes more ‘on the beat’ per shift.

A man from Harrow has been fined and given an evening curfew after pleading guilty to wasting police time.

Pedro Barreto had claimed his mobile phone was stolen during a mugging last November but later admitted making up the story in order to claim on his phone insurance.

Tomorrow (Friday 28th October) will see Sussex Police using mobile video service Bambuser for non-stop, live streaming of their activities all day.

The video broadcasts will start at 6am using mobile phones & laptops and will run for 24 hours.