Polish billionaire Roman Karkosik has pledged $1 billion (£498,000) to the development of new UK MVNO Extreme Mobile and sister company Advantage Cellular Communications, which comprises Advantage Business Solutions and Advantage Cellular in the UK.

The non-specialist retail channel is the focus of distribution’s efforts ahead of the Christmas rush, with several distributors looking to bolster account management for the channel and retailers setting their stalls out.

BT will launch prepay through its Mobile Fusion service in early November.

Service provider Timico has expanded its dealer base from 20 to 150 in 12 months, more than half of which run active monthly accounts.

LG Mobile has bolstered its marketing team ahead of its five-megapixel Viewty handset hitting the market.

3 has signed a deal with Sony Ericsson for exclusive rights to the new purple version of the K770 Cyber-Shot.

Orange has reinstated its ‘unlimited’ deals, following demand from dealers. Butcommission levels on unlimited sales have been cut, and will be negotiated on a dealer-by-dealer basis.

Samsung has extended Brightstar’s trial distribution arrangement beyond the standard three months as it struggles to get off the ground in the UK

Calling card provider IDT Europe has struck a deal with Orange in the UK to launch a SIM-only prepay MVNO. Orange said it was also considering other new MVNO proposals in the UK.

Japanese battery maker Matsushita has agreed to cover the costs of overheating Nokia BL-5C batteries.