Android handset hackers are rejoicing today as HTC has backed down on its plans to lock the bootloader on its smart phones. It means you’ll continue to be able to load whichever version of Android you choose on your phone. Posting a message on Facebook, HTC CEO Peter Chou said,  “overwhelming customer feedback that people …

O2 may flog the HTC Sensation from Monday 20 June — about three and a half weeks from today. That’s according to an existing O2 customer who claims to have been given the Sensation’s due date by a member of the operator’s upgrade department. The customer then tipped off DialToSave. O2, like most operators, likes to keep fairly quiet about exact release dates. You won’t …

Ofcom has introduced three regulations designed to benefit UK mobile-phone users. The telecoms regulator has banned contracts longer than 24 months, and forced operators to transfer customer’s mobile numbers to a new provider within one day. It’s also introduced an emergency SMS scheme that will let registered users text, rather than call, 999. Check out our guide to find out …

Tesco Mobile is the top network for both pay as you go and pay monthly services, according to a survey of UK phone users by JD Power. The study also found the vast majority of contract customers now have smart phones. The purveyors of fine customer satisfaction surveys asked over 3,400 UK mobile users to rate their experience of both …

BT will cut the cost of calling mobile phones from a landline from this Saturday, 28 May. Its customers can now expect to pay 11.3p per minute during peak times (down from 13p) and 5.3p per minute (was 7p) in the evenings and at weekends. This isn’t just BT being kind to its customers (though that would be welcome) but …

A high-speed LTE mobile network will be trialled among a select group of Cornwall residents later this year, as part of a collaboration between BT and Everything Everywhere. The trial is intended to test the feasibility of bringing high-speed wireless broadband services to rural areas that have slow Internet connections or none at all. It will cover approximately 25 square miles and …

Sony’s had a pretty rough time of it over the past month, but at least its mobile division can share some good news with the unveiling of the new Sony Ericsson Xperia mini and Xperia mini pro. These Android-based teeny tiny smart phones are updated versions of last year’s X10 mini and X10 mini pro. Lest you forget Sony makes …

Apple devices running the latest iOS version 4 are now susceptible to having their passcodes hacked. This would allow someone complete access to your stored data. Russian security firm ElcomSoft claims to be the first company to have cracked the encryption system used to protect the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Alarmingly, it plans to sell the software to the …

The premium Nokia Oro has just waved its sparkly bits at us to catch our magpie-like attention. Just as we thought Nokia’s idea of expanding its portfolio meant churning out cheap, irritating handsets, the 18-carat gold and leather-clad Oro comes along. Yes, Nokia’s rolling out expensive, gaudy phones too. Unlike some other bling-infested mobiles, we can’t poke too much fun …

Nokia’s new X1-01 is another in its line of super-cheap mobile phones and a variant of the X1-00 we tentatively associated ourselves with a couple of months ago. It’s the mouthy little brother of the X2. The significant difference between the X1-00 and X1-01 is the latter’s dual SIM capability. Should you have done your homework and ascertained that one …