James Rosewell writes:

Microsoft’s Windows 8 announcement today is as significant to the mobile industry as Apple’s iPad launch 2 years ago. Windows 8 will work on tablets, ultra books, desktops, laptops and 82” big screens. Not only that but it’ll support touch on all these devices.

“We're in a world where tablets are about touch, and PCs are about keyboard. We're changing those assumptions” Steven Sinofsky President, Windows and Windows Live Division says.

VoIP and video calling service Skype is now available for Windows Phone devices.

A beta version of the WP7 app is available now, with the finished ‘gold’ version due in April.

California’s Attorney General has announced an agreement that commits Amazon, Apple, Google, HP, Microsoft and Research In Motion to improving privacy protection for consumers who use internet-connected applications on their smartphones.

The six companies have agreed to ensure the apps available on their platforms have a formal privacy policy.

Mark Bridge writes:

I’m not the first person to point out that mobile phone patent battles are raging all around us. They’ve been going on for years.

However, the topic of FRAND patents - those designated as ‘industry standards’ and therefore required to be licensed on Fair, Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory terms - has become an increasingly newsworthy topic.

In the last couple of weeks we’ve reported on an EC investigation into Samsung’s licensing of mobile patents and a Motorola/Apple legal battle that involves FRAND licensing.

Easy-to-use mobile phone manufacturer Doro says it’s moving beyond handsets to offer Android and Windows-based applications and services.

‘Doro Experience’, which will be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month, combines a simple user interface and a selection of applications.