Web browser company Opera has been looking at European web site usage in its latest State of the Mobile Web report.

Ignoring international online services such as Facebook and Google, Opera has produced top ten lists of local websites for each country.

Over 1 billion people will be using ‘over the top’ mobile VoIP services by 2017, according to a new report from Juniper Research.

That’s the equivalent of one out of every seven mobile phone subscribers worldwide.

The UK leads the world when it comes to mobile data, internet shopping and catch-up TV. That’s the conclusion of Ofcom’s seventh International Communications Market Report, which looked at the availability, adoption, price and use of broadband, fixed-line telephone, mobile, TV, radio and postal services in 16 major countries.

58% of UK adults had a smartphone - one of the highest penetration figures worldwide - while 19% had a tablet device.

4.3 million home and business alarm systems will be connected to mobile phone networks in Europe by 2016, according to a new report from Berg Insight.

The research company predicts that the total number of tracking devices and wireless alarm systems monitored from a European alarm receiving centre will grow from 9.1 million last year to 39.7 million by the end of 2016.

Today's podcast feature takes a look at mobile financial services, from the current state of mobile payments to NFC adoption and the developments we're likely to see next year.

Joining us are Winston Yeo, Vice President Marketing and Product Management for Mobile Financial Services at Gemalto, and Amol Deshmukh, Gemalto's Director of Mobile Financial Services for North America.