Microsoft has officially announced Windows Phone 8, the successor to its Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system. The new OS will be pre-installed on new phones from later this year.

Windows Phone 8 is described as being based on the technology core of Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows 8 PC and tablet OS, sharing its networking, security, media and web browser technology along with a common file system.

This week's mobile industry news podcast starts with two very different stories from Nokia and Microsoft: one is announcing closures, the other is expanding its manufacturing.

We also find time to talk about roaming tariffs, mobile money, intelligent vending machines and a handful of recent mobile-related acquisitions.

Microsoft has revealed a range of own-brand tablet computers called Surface.

At an event a few hours ago it demonstrated two Windows tablets:  one with an ARM processor running the forthcoming Windows RT platform and another with an Intel Core processor featuring Windows 8 Pro. The Windows RT model will be available in the US when Window 8 is launched later this year, while the Windows 8 Pro model will follow around three months later. There’s no mention of UK availability at the moment.

In this week's mobile industry news podcast we're looking at Apple's new mobile operating system, Vodafone's money-saving European tariff and Microsoft's plans to expand the reach of its Xbox gaming console.

There's also talk about network sharing, legal battles, mobile apps, mobile payments and mobile retailing.

Mark Bridge writes:

With just three working days for many people in the UK last week, you’d be forgiven for thinking nothing much would happen. However, you’d be wrong.

Telefónica UK and Vodafone UK announced plans to pool the basic parts of their network infrastructure in an expansion of their existing ‘Cornerstone’ partnership. It means that Vodafone and O2 will be using the same base stations for 2G, 3G and 4G service across the country. Responsibility is being split down the middle; Telefónica UK will take care of the east, while Vodafone UK will have the west. I imagine the dividing line running conveniently between the headquarters buildings in Slough and Newbury respectively.