Dublin-based mobile messaging company Openmind Networks has launched a VoIP service that can be integrated with a customer's existing mobile phone number. The service, called Portico, is being deployed by a European carrier using their own brand (which is probably why Openmind isn't naming names).

Google moves even further into the telecoms space, O2 introduces 'eco ratings' and some of technology's biggest names go shopping. All this - plus the possibility of mobile phones made from nut shells - is discussed in this week's UK mobile industry podcast from Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge.

Google moves even further into the telecoms space, O2 introduces 'eco ratings' and some of technology's biggest names go shopping. All this - plus the possibility of mobile phones made from nut shells - is discussed by Iain, James and Mark.

A company called Interval Licensing LLC has filed a complaint for patent infringement against AOL, Apple, eBay, Facebook, Google, Netflix, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Yahoo! and YouTube. The name may not be familiar but Interval Licensing is owned and controlled by Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates. It generated approximately 300 patents in less than a decade – and four of those patents are the basis for the legal action.

Google’s Gmail email service already includes instant messaging along with voice and video chat. The company has now added conventional phone calls to the Gmail interface. This option is currently only available within the USA, although the company says its working on making this available more broadly. A special voice and video plug-in needs to be installed; it’s available for Windows, Mac and Linux computers.