In the Financial Times Telecoms consultancy Analysis says the inability of operators to agree on a single technical interface has been a major barrier to m-commerce (Vodafone and T-Mobile agreed to the same interface for retailers in March 2002 but have failed to convince other retailers to join in) … The Suns Bizarre column went mobile to report that the first five customers at Vodafones Tottenham Court Road store in London on October 24 would receive a Sharp GX10 mobile phone signed by pop star Samantha Mumba … The Guardian lashed Orange for reneging on its offer of five free text messages per day in its Out Here package (Orange has dropped the number of free messages to three) … The Wall Street Journal covered Siemens launch of a new range of handsets in the US in a further attempt by Siemens to improve its market share there … The Daily Mirror reported on a survey from Lloyds TSB that reckoned 600000 people lost their mobile phones down the toilet in 2001 while another 200000 people put their phones in the washing machine … The Daily Mail covered the partnership between Argos and Vodafone whereby customers can check availability and order goods by text message (see story P12) … The Financial Times reported that eight per cent of men and three per cent of women have admitted to leaving their mobile phones switched on during a flight … The Sunday People reported mobile phone masts could soon double as a means of tracking crime suspects anywhere in the UK.

Thanks to Vodafone for help in compiling Prime Cuts

As in previous years the Mobile News Awards will be presented at a black-tie dinner-dance in the prestigious Hilton on Park Lane Ball room hosted by a televison celebrity. It will be held on on March 27 2003.

Previous hosts have included Frank Skinner Julian Clary Rory Bremner Bob Monkhouse Paul Daniels and Jim Davidson.

Prices range from 5000 for a Platinum package down to 2750 for a Bronze package.

Platinum tables have preferential seating and the package includes a full-page colour advertisement in the Awards programme a twin room at the Hilton on Park Lane and a private champagne reception.

Tables for the Mobile News Awards have sold out every year since 1995. Early booking is advised using the form on the double-page advertisement on page 36.

Hugh Symons will distribute Pogos handheld wireless device which offers colour high-speed web browsing and integrated e-mail SMS and voice messaging. It includes a networked personal organiser and MP3 player.

The company will also handle Handsprings Treo 270 the device that includes a mobile phone wireless applications such as e-mail and internet browsing and a Palm OS organiser.

Womens clothing retailer Topshop plans to launch its Spring/Summer 2003 collection by photo messaging over the Orange network.

Topshops in-house Unique collection will be launched to the press with an MMS photo message campaign this Wednesday (30 October) as part of a digital art exhibition to be held at an art gallery in Camden Town London. The pictures have been taken by celebrated fashion photographer Rankin.

Customers without MMS phones will receive a text message inviting them to view their photo message on the Orange website.

The MMS photo messaging initiative is reckoned to be the first time that a communications company and a fashion retailer have joined forces.

Fashion is all about getting the look first and for consumers to have instant access to the latest trend said an Orange spokesperson.

Topshop brand director Jane Shepherdson added: Topshop is thrilled to be pioneering the use of this new creative medium to launch our Unique collection.

The brand is all about accessibility and spontaneity. The marriage between Topshop and Orange reflects these values.

The digital art exhibition will feature other images taken using photo messaging phones by celebrity contributors including Kate Moss Jo Reynolds Samantha Morton Kate Ashfield and Sofia Kokosalaki.

With Argoss Text & Take Home service customers can use text messaging to check prices and availability and reserve goods. Argos claims it is the first high street retailer to launch such a reservation service through a mobile phone.

A deposit of 20 is refunded when the handset is returned. The service depends on stock availability and the loan mobile offered may not be the same model as the customers own. The free loan scheme follows Link research indicating that being without their mobile is a major concern for customers.

The Link reckons the average UK user misses around four calls and eight text messages each day they are without their mobile. The Link surveyed 400 adult mobile users on their mobile usage habits and discovered a third of respondents make between three and five calls daily with 31 per cent sending the same number of text messages. One in ten made up to 20 calls per day and one in four sent the same number of messages.

The Link says UK mobile retailers normally only offer loan mobiles as part of an extended warranty package or for a fee – often around 1 per day. Customers using The Links loan service will keep their SIM card.

Customers are increasingly reluctant to hand over a faulty mobile for repair. Its as if weve asked them to hand over their credit card. By providing a loan phone were helping to soften the blow said The Links managing director Nick Wood.

The site samsungmobile.com is the manufacturers response to ClubNokia and is live across the UK Germany France Italy and Spain.

It offers downloadable ringtones content graphics and Java games. Non-Samsung owners can become members and receive free SMS messages and e-cards as well as product information on the Samsung phone range and its online games.

Loyalty points can be earned and swapped for ringtones games colour images and software. Owners of Samsung handsets automatically receive 300 points.

It is about helping customers understand their handsets better said Samsung content manager Imogen ORourke.

ORourke is looking to have 50000 UK members by the end of the year and 250000 across Europe.

This range of seasonal fascias from Lazer XS incorporates a flashing LED in the design which lights up when there is an incoming call or text message. Festive.

Aimed at helping networks spice up their SIM card designs the Clear Card is like a normal credit card-sized SIM but with a protective film overlay.

The cards are available in several colours enabling a wide variety of images and see-through effects to be used.

Digital Bridges started out with simpler games such as hangman and anagram and has since added branded titles.