Financial Times

Vodafone cuts data charges for smartphones

Vodafone announced Monday that it will reduce the cost of mobile data downloads for its customers travelling in the operator’s European markets. The move may reduce the risk of regulators forcing the telecom industry to implement price cuts, FT writes. Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao hopes that customers will over time spend more on their smartphones under the usage-based charging model.

Tata seeks ban on publication of phone conversations 

Ratan Tata has petitioned for the Indian Supreme Court to refrain from publishing intercepted phone conversations with Vaishnavi Communications founder Niira Radia, who is being investigated by Indian anti-corruption watchdogs. Although there is nothing in the leaked tapes that suggests illegality, they expose the major role that lobbyists play in Indian business and politics, FT writes. 

Retailers see rise in smartphone shopping

A survey of a range of retailers has shown that sales from mobile devices accounted for almost three percent of their online sales on the Friday and Saturday after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday last Thursday. This compares with “practically zero” last year, said Fiona Dias, head of strategy at e-commerce services provider GSI Commerce. Laura Conrad, president of Pricegrabber, said the comparison shopping site has seen a “significant spike” in recent days in the number of people using mobiles for purchases and research. “There is more research than buying because people are not completely comfortable making purchases (via this medium) and a lot of retailers still do not have good applications for the mobile phone yet,” she said.