The GSMA and 17 leading mobile operators and manufacturers have announced that they are committed to implementing a cross-industry standard for a universal charger for new mobile phones. The aim of the initiative, led by the GSMA, is to ensure that the mobile industry adopts a common format for mobile phone charger connections and energy-efficient chargers resulting in an estimated 50% reduction in standby energy consumption, and the potential elimination of up to 51,000 tonnes of duplicate chargers.

Global chipmakers, battling slower technology demand, are betting size matters as they pin their hopes for future growth on small and easy to carry mobile devices such as netbooks and smartphones.

Shares in Palm surged over 36% on Friday after its new touch-screen phone and mobile operating system impressed analysts and short sellers rushed to cover their positions, giving investors hope it may win customers from rivals such as Apple.

Palm executives say the touch-screen device and the new operating system inside it, WebOS, break new ground in the fiercely competitive smartphone market. The phone's selling points include an emphasis on fast Web browsing and efficient multitasking.

"We will continue to combine market share and margins in the right way in order to maximize the bottom line," Nokia CEO Kallasvuo was quoted as saying in an interview. This in stark contrast to some of its smaller rivals, like LG Electronics, who have said they will do anything to reach their sales targets.

Struggling smartphone maker Palm said Friday it is cutting its workforce, a move the company takes as it loses market share to rivals Apple and RIM.

Japan's largest mobile-phone operator and KT Freetel of South Korea will work together to develop a low-cost smart phone using free software from Google.

Research In Motion (RIMM) President Mike Lazaridis Monday said he's still confident about growth in the smartphone market. Lazaridis said despite the economic crisis everybody needs communication devices. He added the smart phone market outpaces the overall mobile phone sector.

This is the third quarter in a row that has shown a year-over-year decline in cell phone sales, and this quarter claimed the lowest total sales since NPD Group began tracking this data in 2005. The 28 million cell phones sold in the second quarter represent a 13% decline from last year. However, total revenue only declined by 2%, meaning the average cost per cell phone is up 14%. Motorola’s most iconic and successful phone, the Razr, was popular largely because of its simplicity and usability.