Nokia and the University of Cambridge have announced an agreement to work together on joint research projects.

It covers the collaboration between the Nokia Research Centre (NRC) responsible for its strategic and long-term research and the University with researchers from both working closely together.

The NRC will be based at a research facility at the universitys West Cambridge site their new science and technology campus.

A University of Cambridge spokesman said: This is a major long-term partnership and will last at least 10 years. It will be the first big Nokia Research Centre in Europe and will be a state-of-the-art facility.

Walkers new role will see 3 amalgamate both handsets and services together into one team. The move is designed to integrate 3s mobile Internet services with its handset range.

3 marketing director John Penberthy-Smith said: Enabling customers to get more out of their mobiles is a fundamental requirement for 3s long term success. Relevant and easy to-use products and services are critical to supporting a more impactful and engaging mobile experience.

Fergal has done an exemplary job since he joined 3 UK earlier this year. He has dramatically improved our focus on handsets. I am delighted that he has agreed to extend his leadership to our products.

Harris replaces Simon Lloyd and starts in October. He joins from agency WCRS where he was involved in campaigns for Orange and O₂.

Harris will be responsible for marketing across Nokias mobile multimedia and enterprise divisions. Head of product management Marcus Dacombe who has covered the role since Lloyds departure reverts to his old role.

Phones 4U board directors Tim Whiting Phil Dobson and Jim Slater spent a week at the Fareham Phones 4U branch Hampshire at the end of last month as part of its annual Back to the Floor programme.

The Fareham outlet was Phones 4Us best-performing store in Q4 2006. This won its staff led by manager Chris Howells a week in Prague and Phones 4U CEO Whiting COO Dobson and marketing director Slater picked up the slack.

Phones 4U CEO Tim Whiting said: It is very important for us to spend time working in our stores. Talking to our customers understanding their needs better and living through the challenges faced by our in store teams is invaluable. It reinforces what a fantastic job they do.

Vodafone’s Warner deal extended to live Madonna concert stream

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said last week that it may investigate a network sharing agreement between Vodafone and Orange.

An OFT spokesman said: We have to assess whether this constitutes a merger and whether sharing a network would lessen competition within the market.

Vodafone and Orange announced earlier this month they would enter an arrangement to maximise 3G coverage and save money through shared network management.

Vodafone CEO Nick Read said: The proposal will enable the two companies to remain vigorously competitive against each other.

Orange CEO Bernard Ghillebaert called it a common sense approach to network rollout and management.

Flint took up the role in June 2004 and during his tenure he has seen Sony Ericsson rise to become the worlds fourth largest phone manufacturer.

Flint will be replaced on November 1 by Sony Ericsson USA chairman Hideki Dick Komiyama. The new president will relocate to Sony Ericssons London offices and Flint will stay on as his executive advisor until the end of December.

Commenting on his departure Flint said: After nearly 17 years in Sony and Sony Ericsson I wish to develop new personal and business opportunities and intend to take a short career break before deciding on my next steps.

Leading a major mobile handset company which is also a joint venture between two of the worlds great companies has been a wonderful and rewarding experience.

I believe that together we have in place very firm foundations for the next phase of Sony Ericssons growth and I wish Dick Komiyama every success in his new role.

The deal is only available to new Vodafone customers and the group will support the campaign with in-store and outdoor advertising.

Vodafone UK chief marketing officer Tim Yates said: These new offers within our pay monthly price plans give customers great value for money.

If a customer is mostly a talker then they can take advantage of unlimited calls to UK landlines at no extra charge or if they prefer to text then they can take advantage of unlimited text messages.

Theres also debate over the Nokia Music Store and a review of the LG Viewty KU990. Meanwhile Mobile News editorial director Ian White rants about Vodafone offering massage services for its executives.

To cap it all off Iain Graham and the team take a light hearted look at all the latest headlines affecting the mobile industry. So dont miss out listen to the latest edition of the Mobile News podcast by clicking here.

Chinese manufacturer ZTE has signed a deal with Vodafone to supply it with budget Vodafone-branded prepay devices across all Vodafones markets.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the ZTE devices will be sold in the UK but the first an ultra low-cost 2G handset will ship to emerging markets in Q2.

Vodafones global director of terminals Jens Schulte-Bockum said: This agreement will build on ZTEs experience in emerging markets to create an ultra-low cost handset as the first of a range of products we seek to develop with them.

ZTE senior vice president He Shiyou said: This is a breakthrough for us and highlights ZTEs ability to develop handsets according to European operators requirements and standards.