Japanese technology company NEC Corporation says it has stopped developing, making and selling smartphones via its NEC CASIO Mobile Communications business.

The smartphone business is controlled by NEC, with Casio and Hitachi each owning a minority share.

Around 2.5 million femtocells were shipped worldwide this year according to ABI Research, substantially less than the three to four million previously expected.

An increase in femtocell commercial operator contracts - a total of 88 in 2011 - had led to expectations of increased shipments.

Mobile and wireless research firm iSuppli Corp says its Q2 2010 list of the fastest-growing smartphone manufacturers is dominated by companies utilising the Android operating system.

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.

The European Commission has announced a settlement decision in a cartel case that involved ten producers of DRAM memory chips. The fine, which totals €331,273,800 (around £286 million) includes a reduction of 10% for the companies' acknowledgement of the facts. The companies involved were Micron, Samsung, Hynix, Infineon, NEC, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Elpida and Nanya. Micron was not fined because it revealed the existence of the cartel to the Commission in 2002. Only one of the companies – Infineon – was based in Europe but all sell their products in the European Economic Area (EEA) and must abide by EU law.