Mark Bridge writes:

Let’s start with a slightly belated birthday wish to the hand-held mobile phone, which made its first public appearance on 3rd April 1973. At that point we’d had carphones for a while… but this was the first time anyone had heard the phrase “Sorry, I’ve got to go, the battery’s running out” spoken in public. Or something like that.

HP (Hewlett-Packard) says its executive chairman, Raymond Lane, has decided to step down. He’ll remain as a director but will be replaced on an interim basis by investor Ralph Whitworth.

Directors John Hammergren and Ken Thompson are also leaving after the May board meeting.

LG Electronics has acquired the webOS operating system - originally created by Palm four years ago - from HP. This includes the webOS source code, documentation, engineering talent and related websites.

In addition, HP will also license LG to use patent that cover system and user interface technologies with its webOS products.

This week's podcast starts with news that HP is unhappy - but we resist the temptation to include any saucy puns that might spice up the story.

The programme also covers Nokia's new Facebook-friendly phone, plans for white space technology in the UK, shopping on smartphones, Samsung's Chinese suppliers, the demand for mobile data and a new app from Orange that seems to threaten its mobile business.

Mark Bridge writes:

It’s time to ‘ketchup’ with last week’s biggest mobile industry news stories - and where better to start than with HP’s claims of ‘saucy’ behaviour?  It’s launched an investigation into last year’s acquisition of UK company Autonomy, claiming the software company had ‘spiced up’ its valuation. Condiment-based puns aside, it’s a serious matter that could see key players from the deal charged with cooking the books.