Web giant Google has strengthened its patent portfolio further with the acquisition of a “beam forming” Mobile Transmit Diversity (MTD) patent portfolio from US-based Magnolia Broadband.

Microsoft has unveiled its latest operating system for mobile handsets, Windows Phone 8. The announcement was made in the same week as the firm launched its Surface tablet device, which runs on the Windows 8 operating system for PCs and tablets.

Microsoft has unveiled two of its own tablet devices, in an attempt to compete with rivals Apple and Google as well as its own OEM partners. The Surface devices come in two flavours: one running an ARM processor featuring the Windows RT operating system, and one with a third-generation Intel Core processor running on Windows 8 Pro.

Vodafone Group’s potential takeover of Cable and Wireless Worldwide (CWW) is a step closer to being accepted after a major shareholder withdrew its objection to the deal. The operator group’s £1.04bn bid was in doubt of being accepted after investment group Orbis, which owns 19 per cent of CWW, voiced its opposition to the takeover.

Motorola Solutions has made a bid to acquire ruggedized mobile device manufacturer Psion for approximately £128m ($200m). The firm, which is the business remaining after Google acquired its handset business, Motorola Mobility, said it wanted to acquire Psion to strengthen its mobile-computing portfolio with ruggedized handheld products and vehicle-mount terminals.

Latin American operator group América Móvil is increasing its presence in Europe by acquiring a 21 per cent stake in Telekom Austria. The purchase comes in the same week that the operator increased its stake in Dutch operator KPN.

US government agency the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and bank Citi have announced a global partnership to promote the rapid adoption of mobile money technology in developing nations. USAID and Citi said that they will work with governments, donors, industry and other participants in the payments system to support local mobile money platforms, and will contribute over $23m to the cause.