Ericsson and ZTE have resolved patent licensing issues that had seen both parties taking legal action against each other.

In April 2011, Ericsson filed lawsuits in Germany, UK and Italy against ZTE for infringing on some of its GSM and 3G/UMTS technology patents. ZTE responded with its own patent claim.

Research In Motion has named Thorsten Heins as President and Chief Executive Officer today, appointing him to the company’s board. It says it’s acted on the recommendation of its previous co-Chief Executive Officers.

Mike Lazaridis, former co-Chair and co-CEO of RIM, has become Vice Chair of RIM’s Board and Chair of the Board’s new Innovation Committee. Former co-CEO Jim Balsillie will remain a member of the Board.

Mark Bridge writes:

We’re starting the week with breaking (but not entirely unexpected) news that RIM has a new CEO. Just one, not two. We’ll be talking much more about him in Wednesday’s podcast. In fact, RIM’s announcement concludes a week that’s been packed with big names - and big money as well.

Mobile Marketing magazine has an exclusive statement from Gareth Powell, Transport for London’s director of strategy and service development, in which he says London Underground expects to have WiFi service in place in time for this summer’s Olympic Games.

Last March, London Underground invited telecoms companies to tender for providing public WiFi service in tube stations by June 2012. The winning bidder was originally expected to be announced last year.

The latest research from Nielsen shows that 46% of all US mobile consumers had smartphones in the final quarter of 2011, with 60% of purchasers in that period choosing a smartphone.

Most smartphone users are choosing Android-based devices, although the launch of the Apple iPhone 4S boosted iOS sales towards the end of the period.