Orange today announced the launch of what it claims is the world's first 3G Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) service, enhancing its successful Unik dualmode GSM/Wi-Fi service that had a reported 500,000 users at the end of last year.

Barclaycard, the UK credit card issuer, is to invest "a seven-figure sum" in contactless payment technology in what could be a major boost for mobile payments, reports The Press Association.

Egyptian-based telecoms group Orascom is looking to acquire Telekom Austria, an Austrian newspaper reported yesterday.

Vodafone Group has made a series of changes to its senior management and organisational structure, the first major move by new CEO, Vittorio Colao.

Portuguese telecoms regulator Anacom has launched a tender for the award of a fourth national mobile operator license in the 450-470 MHz frequency band, reports TelecomPaper.

Juniper Research claims that 700 million mobile subscribers globally will have phones equipped with NFC contactless technology by 2013.

Acrodea, Brycen, HI Corporation, Ixonos, KTF, Opera Software, Sharp, TapRoot Systems and UIQ Technology have joined the Symbian Foundation.