Devices

Reuters reports today that China Mobile plans to launch a 3G handset this quarter based on Google's open-source Android operating system.

Reuters notes that shares in Palm surged over 36 percent on Friday after its new touchscreen 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.

A device roadmap purported to include every smartphone that Taiwanese handset vendor HTC currently has in development has been leaked to the Internet.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Motorola's handset division is preparing to layoff as much as half of its entire workforce.

iPhone-maker Apple has been hit by the news that CEO Steve Jobs is to take six month's medical leave after revealing in an email to Apple employees that his medical condition was "more complex" then originally thought.

Motorola is to cut a further 4,000 jobs in a bid to realise cost savings of around US$1.5 billion this year, the beleaguered US handset vendor announced yesterday in a confirmation of earlier press reports.

Apple has begun allowing third-party web browsers to be used on the iPhone. Although the company has made no official announcement, MacRumours.com reports that a series of browsers are now available on the iPhone's applications store, having been approved by Apple.