January is a bumper month for mobile phone recycling each year, with many of us turning in their old phones to recycling companies on account of receiving new phones as Christmas presents. Interestingly, according to figures from one key recycling outfit, the total value of recycled phones during January 2012 was nearly one-third higher than the same value a year earlier.

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The world of technology runs at a fast pace for companies as well as consumers, and where BlackBerry once exercised near-total dominance of its niche market, it now faces strong competition.

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Mobile phone customers are increasingly interested in a technology known as ‘tethering’, which refers to the ability to turn their mobile phone unit into a portable Wi-fi hotspot that can broadcast internet access to other devices. Using tethering, a consumer with a mobile phone and data package can also access the internet on his or her home computer simply by directing the computer to join up with the Wi-fi network being created by the mobile phone.

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In addition to a new tethering capacity, BlackBerry OS version 7.1, which is currently in a roll-out phase as users update their handsets, will offer exciting new features that make use of near field communications technology. NFC has been embedded into BlackBerry units since the middle of last year but, until now, the NFC capacity was under-utilised by most consumers. That may now be poised to change due to a new element in the 7.1 interface known as Tag.

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Even before most Brits had ever heard the term ‘smartphone’, those in business and commerce were already in love with their BlackBerry handsets. From integrated calendar and contact functions to a convenient full QWERTY keyboard, the Research in Motion company knew how to deliver what its target consumers wanted.

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BlackBerry users eager to purchase the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 will be happy to learn that both Vodafone and Orange mobile phone networks have announced that the device will be available for use on their systems. The Vodafone announcement came some time earlier, but Orange UK has just now chimed in with positive remarks about the Bold 9790. The announcement came as a blurb on the Orange UK website, which is now listing the device on its ‘coming soon’ page.

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The Christmas season is upon us at last, and the big day is now less than a week away. With this in mind, even the busiest parents are finalizing their list of what to get for children whose names appear in the “nice, not naughty” column of Santa’s Christmas list. Many are coming to the same conclusion: that children always seem to appreciate an upgrade to their electronics, and in the current technological climate, few devices are more popular for youngsters than mobile handheld phones.

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Recent concern over the possible presence of Carrier IQ on handsets used to access mobile phone networks in the UK appears to be calming down after all four major networks, as well as some manufacturers, announced that they are not using the system, which allows for close monitoring of user activity on mobile phones. In particular, Research in Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry, made clear that it does not installer software for Carrier IQ itself, nor does it allow any of its partners to perform such installation.

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A recent study conducted under the auspices of the Institute of Leadership & Management has revealed key information about the use of technology in the workplace. Among the findings of the Institute was the fact that the BlackBerry mobile communications devices is regarded as significantly more vital for business use than is the competing iPhone.

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As mobile commerce continues to heat up, mobile phone networks as well as financial companies are positioning their products. Each is hoping that their own proprietary system will become a widely adopted standard for making mobile payments, considered one of the most lucrative new markets to emerge in recent years.

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