Google, which acquired Israeli navigation application Waze earlier this year, has started adding data from Waze users to its mobile Maps application.

Accidents, road works and road closures reported by Waze users in the UK will now appear on the Google Maps app for Android and iOS.

Samsung has put a 10x optical zoom lens on a smartphone, Google is acquiring navigation app Waze and the European Commission is getting ready to equip cars with an emergency call system.

We're also talking about a strike threat at O2, the risk of 'showrooming' to high-street retailers, the end of Symbian smartphones and plenty more as well.

Mark Bridge writes:

The telecommunications industry was making plenty of headlines last week – but much of it wasn’t particularly upbeat.

The debate about privacy and security continued in the wake of allegations about US agents intercepting internet traffic. Meanwhile, Nokia prepared to make its last Symbian smartphones and Tradedoubler warned that mobile devices were having a negative effect on high-street consumer loyalty.

Google has confirmed that it’s acquired Waze, a mobile app that helps drivers navigate while sharing information about heavy traffic and road hazards.

The Waze product development team will remain in Israel - and the separate Waze brand and community will be maintained.

Israeli telecoms company Accel Telecom has launched what it’s described as the ‘first standalone connected car smartphone’ at Mobile World Congress.

The company’s VOYAGER device can be installed in any car and requires its own SIM card, enabling it to be used with an existing phone number on networks that offer ‘multi-SIM’ working.