Is mobile technology giving us what we need?

Ofcom has published a consultation called "Mobile citizens, mobile consumers", which considers whether the mobile sector is delivering on the needs of UK citizens asking whether regulation should adapt to reflect market and technological changes. The consultation, which ends on 6th November, is looking at

• customer service, consumer choice and value for money;
• mobile as part of the broader communications market; and
• the future of industry regulation, including mobile termination rates.

[Executive summary; News release]

Tesco Mobile and Virgin Mobile top JD Power survey

Tesco Mobile and Virgin Mobile have come out as the top networks for customer satisfaction in the 2008 J.D. Power UK Mobile Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study. Tesco Mobile ranks highest in customer satisfaction with pre-pay mobile telephone service, while Virgin Mobile ranks highest among contract mobile phone customers. Overall, customer satisfaction in the pre-pay segment has decreased slightly while customer satisfaction in the contract segment has increased. Orange came bottom of both sets of results. [Press release]

New podcast edition of 'The Fonecast' now online

In this week's edition of the Mobile News podcast we talk to Mike Trotman and his colleagues from Aura about their mobile industry Customer Satisfaction survey. There's our regular look at the latest mobile industry headlines and rumours, plus a quick review of the new LG Secret.

The Mobile News podcast is produced by The Fonecast. There's more information about the team and an archive of previous broadcasts at TheFonecast.com.

Mobile networks criticised by 'Which?'

None of the UK's mobile phone networks scored highly enough in a recent customer satisfaction survey to achieve 'Best Buy' status from consumer organisation Which?

Tesco scored the best for pay as you go deals (67%) and Virgin for pay monthly options (70%), while the average scores were 54% satisfaction for prepay and 51% satisfaction for pay monthly. [Press release]