In this special feature we're talking to David Akka, who tells us why he says Android is dead, why Chromecast is an omen for the mobile industry, why OS companies are getting into hardware and what the future holds for the mobile industry.

David is UK managing director of Magic Software and describes himself as a 'recovering techie'. His personal blog is at davidakka.com.

A new report from Juniper Research shows that new smartphone operating systems are expected to gain ground in niche areas during the next few years. Mobile platforms such as Asha, Sailfish and HTML5-based systems are likely to increase their market share thanks to cost innovation and local knowledge.

However, the global smartphone market is still expected to be dominated by Android and Apple iOS.

This week we're talking about BlackBerry's options for the future, Vodafone's 4G launch, Apple's patent victory and LG's new smartphone.

We also discuss ZTE selling its Firefox phones on eBay, Nokia's acquisition of NSN, the cost of phone calls in Europe, the controversy about recycling bins that monitor footfall and the new face promoting HTC.

Mark Bridge writes:

August is traditionally known as the ‘silly season’… but last week’s mobile industry news was all very serious. Apple started with a move designed to reassure customers about unsafe iPhone chargers by arranging a discounted exchange scheme – and it ended the week with a patent victory in the USA.

The US International Trade Commission has banned a number of Samsung mobile devices from being imported to the USA.

It’s upheld a decision about two patents: one involved touch-screen technology and listed Apple founder Steve Jobs as one of the inventors, the other related to the way an audio socket detected the type of equipment that had been connected. Four other claims were rejected by the US ITC.