Telefónica UK has been chosen as one of the preferred communications service providers for the UK’s smart meter roll-out. Subject to contract, it’ll provide communications services across the Centre and South regions in a deal worth £1.5 billion over 15 years.

The provider for the North region is infrastructure company Arqiva, with a deal worth £625 million over 15 years.

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.

Telefónica has announced that it’s closing the TU Me voice-over-IP service next month.

TU Me, which offers free voice calls as well as messaging and photo sharing, was originally launched in May last year. It’s currently available as an Apple iOS, Google Android and BlackBerry application.

The UK government has confirmed the parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that’ll benefit from its £150 million Mobile Infrastructure Project.

Cornwall, Northumberland, Strabane, Aberdeenshire and Powys are among the areas that will be targeted by the project.