Yesterday evening UK time, Microsoft began the roll-out of its Windows Phone 7.5 ‘Mango’ software update to mobile phones around the world.

Around 10% of customers are expected to receive the update this week, with volumes increasing over the next four weeks if everything runs according to plan.

Android is the preferred operating system among current smartphone owners and those who intend to buy a new smartphone in the next six months, according to the Connected Intelligence service from The NPD Group.

Not only is Android generating more interest than any other OS (63%) but it’s also the platform consumers are ‘most interested in’. In fact, at least half of all smartphone purchases for the past three quarters have been Android devices.

HTC has revealed two new smartphones that’ll use the Windows Phone platform.

The HTC TITAN has a 4.7-inch screen in a 9.9mm aluminium casing, while the HTC Radar is formed from a single piece of aluminium and has a 3.8-inch screen. Both are expected to become available from next month.

Polar Mobile, which offers a platform that helps companies launch own-brand applications, is launching more than 300 mobile apps for Nokia smartphones over the next 12 months.

The apps will be available on Symbian, MeeGo and Windows Phone devices.

ZTE Corporation says it's shipped 35 million mobile handsets in the first half of 2011, around a 30% year-on-year increase globally. Sales in Europe have increased by a similar percentage.

Worldwide sales of smart devices were up 400% year-on-year to 5 million units, thanks to the ZTE Blade becoming one of the world’s top-selling smartphones.