Ben Whitaker of Masabi talks about mobile ticketing, including his company's recent partnership with thetrainline.com that'll enable almost any mobile phone user to buy train tickets when they're on the move. (An extended version of the interview from Wednesday's podcast).

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) are encouraging the launch of financial services by mobile phone in Haiti, following the January earthquake. Fewer than 10% of Haitians had ever used a commercial bank before the disaster.

The two organisations say enabling Haitians to send, receive and store money using their mobile phones has the potential to dramatically improve their lives and leapfrog more conventional banking models to safer, more affordable alternatives.

Figures from Ovum and Verdict Research show that the value of internet shopping on mobile phones will more than double by 2013. The UK's m-commerce market was worth £122 million in 2009 – just 0.6% of the £21.2 billion spent on all online shopping - but is set to hit £275 million by 2013.

Although 28% of the UK adult population had internet access on their mobile phones in 2009, only 2.1% used this to shop online.

Orange France has launched a contactless payment and ticketing service in the area around Nice. It's based on an NFC-equipped version of the Samsung Player One handset and includes a free Cityzi pass that'll let consumers buy and validate tickets on public transport, pay in shops and accumulate loyalty points.

The European Commission has set out a Digital Agenda for Europe that explains how it believes Information and Communication Technologies should be used to deliver sustainable economic and social benefits within Europe.

Launching the Digital Agenda earlier this week, Neelie Kroes - European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda – said "We must put the interests of Europe's citizens and businesses at the forefront of the digital revolution and so maximise the potential of Information and Communications Technologies to advance job creation, sustainability and social inclusion."