Samsung is rolling out an update for its international Galaxy S3 smartphone that disables on-device search functionality. According to Android Central, the over-the-air upgrade currently rolling out is described as a “stability” update and, although it brings system improvements, it also strips out the local search functionality from the device’s built-in Google Search app. Consequently, …

Ofcom has unveiled plans for the auction of spectrum that will pave the way for the launch of 4G mobile networks in the United Kingdom. The telecoms regulator has now set itself a rough deadline for auctioning 4G spectrum in the U.K., saying the sale is “set to get under way by the end of 2012.” Once the auction takes …

South Korea tops the charts for wireless broadband subscribers, according to figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The country is the first to pass 100 percent penetration for wireless broadband, according to data from the organization. Worldwide wireless broadband subscriptions in OECD countries have shown healthy growth of over 13 percent in the last six months, and …

The beleaguered phone maker Nokia reported today a $1.7 billion (1.4 billion euro) net loss on $9.23 billion in net sales in the second quarter. Analysts expected a loss of 641.1 million euros ($784 million) on revenue of 7.53 billion euros ($9.27 billion). Nokia reported net sales of 7.5 billion euros ($9.23 billion), up from 7.4 billion euros ($9.11 billion) …

San Francisco-based startup Uber, developer of the Summon-a-Car application, is temporarily giving users the ability to call an ice-cream truck through their app. The company’s app, available on Android or iPhone, can be used to request and book private vehicles in a number of U.S. cities. Today, however, users in seven cities can also use the app to request the …

Mobile operator O2 has recommended that its U.K. customers switch off their 3G connections in order to restore 2G services, as an outage continues to affect its network. The outage, which affected the O2 network on Wednesday afternoon and overnight, saw customers suddenly left without the ability to make or receive calls, texts, or access to data services. Mobile virtual …

San Francisco-based startup Uber, developer of the Summon-a-Car application, has won a battle over draft legislation proposed by Washington D.C. that could have forced it to dramatically increase its fares. Uber’s Summon-a-Car app, available on Android or iPhone, allows users to request private car services in a number of US cities. Uber’s smartphone personal vehicle service. Uber The D.C. Taxicab …

In a bid to grab a slice of the social gaming market, U.K.-based startup Betable has launched a new platform that allows game developers to bolt on real-money gambling facilities to their mobile applications and online games. Betable’s platform will give game providers the means to offer a real-world alternative to virtual money and goods to their players, while the …

In June, Research In Motion suffered its worst month to date. First, a $518 million quarterly loss. Second, its lowest share price since the company’s peak in 2008. And last, a delay for the forthcoming line of BlackBerry models and an updated operating system that may make or break RIM’s future. Considering this, with RIM’s annual meeting scheduled this week, …

Nine years after the first iTunes launched in the U.S., Apple has taken the service to Asia. In a low-key launch last week, Apple opened the door to a version of iTunes aimed at 12 new markets in Asia, including Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. While Japan has had its own version of iTunes since 2005, iTunes has been largely …