The UK arm of Vodafone has launched its first pay-as-you-go USB mobile broadband 'dongle' targeted at users who do not wish to be tied to a contract.

New figures from Chinese research firm CCID Consulting reveal that mobile handset giants Nokia and Motorola account for almost 90 percent of China's smartphone market.

Middle East and Africa operator Zain said it expects its new mobile business in Saudi Arabia to report a profit in its second year of operation after a better-than-expected launch, reports Gulf Daily News.

In a further effort to cut costs, US handset-maker Motorola is to suspend company-matching contributions to its 401(k) employee pension plan in the US and will freeze many pay increases next year.

The anti-trust regulator in France has ruled that Orange France's arrangement with Apple to offer the iPhone in the country on an exclusive basis is anti-competitive, reports Associated Press.

Alcatel-Lucent has agreed to sell its remaining 21 percent stake in defense contractor Thales to plane-maker Dassault Aviation for €1.57 billion (US$2.3 billion) in an all-French deal.

AP News reports that US microchip maker Texas Instruments is cutting 400 jobs in the Philippines to cope with falling orders amid the global economic crunch.