The Informer got a software update for his Nexus this week and the resulting tweaks to the interface led him accidentally to the data usage display. He was somewhat surprised to find that the second most data-hungry app on his phone was Google+, a service he has never used. Over a ten-day period Google+ huffed back 5.54MB of data over the mobile network, all of it in the background. This might not sound like much but it’s all relative; roughly one per cent of the monthly allowance, Google+ usage outstrips Facebook by some margin and leaves Gmail in the dust. And it’s worth repeating: This app has never been used.

Following the launches of mobile card reader devices such as Square, iZettle and mPowa, Canadian firm Inuit has launched one of its own. Intuit Pay enables businesses to take secure payments face-to-face and over the phone. The Chip & PIN card reader is currently only available for Apple’s iOS devices, and is free for a limited, unspecified, time.

Almost 200 million mobile users will be making payments via their mobile by 2017, according to research published today. According to Juniper Research, there is a growing user acceptance of ‘push’ mobile banking and a sharp rise in tablet adoption, which will drive users of transactional tablet banking services.

Norwegian operator group Telenor has stepped up its focus on coupons and value codes by acquiring local mobile digital coupon and loyalty card solutions provider Liquid Barcodes.

Operator group Vodafone has struck a deal with US business risk management services firm Towers Watson to introduce telematics/usage-based insurance services to the operator’s connected car offering. The service will be offered to motor insurance companies operating outside of North America.

Mohamad Mourad, Regional Manager Gulf, Google is delivering a keynote of the opening day of the Broadband MEA conference, taking place on the 19th-20th March 2013 at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai, UAE. Ahead of the show we speak to him about his role and what opportunities he sees for Google in the region.

Operator group Orange, through its healthcare services subsidiary Almerys has created a mobile identity management system for the healthcare sector. The firm partnered with identity management solutions Morpho as it extends its existing health card solution portfolio.

Almost twelve months after Vodafone Spain became the first mobile operator to officially launch Joyn, South Korea’s SK Telecom has announced a fairly impressive one million users for its Joyn.T service, just 50 days after it was launched in December 2012.

UK operator group Vodafone has struck a five-year deal with British defence firm BAE Systems. The two have penned a partnership to provide businesses with a range of advanced communications security products and services for smartphones and tablets. BAE Systems has also selected Vodafone as its preferred supplier of mobile communications worldwide, excluding the US.