Microsoft wants Windows Phone to go global in an even bigger way. The company spilled a few of the details from its upcoming update to Windows Phone, which will be released later this year. With the update, Microsoft is loosening the restrictions for devices, allowing manufacturers to create more affordable products for the emerging markets. …

BARCELONA, Spain — Big changes are coming to Firefox OS over the next year as Mozilla moves the browser-based operating system away from its current Android-style functioning. At the Mobile World Congress show here Sunday, the nonprofit organization showed what’s in store for its mobile OS. Much of it’s about the interface changes — notifications, task switching, app discovery, search. …

BARCELONA, Spain — AT&T’s crew for its Drive Studio connected car facility is getting a little bigger. The telecom company said Monday that it had signed up three new partners to help automakers ease their way into the world of wireless services. First up is Qualcomm, which will debut its recently unveiled Snapdragon Automotive Solutions, which powers infotainment and telematics …

I know wearable tech is big business at the moment, but this is a little out of left field. It’s called the Alcatel Onetouch Pop Fit, and it’s a smart phone you can wear. Though sadly you strap it onto your arm rather than pull it on like a cardigan. Like a lot of wearable devices, it’s aimed squarely at …

We’ve only just heard about Samsung’s two new smart watches, and now come some fresh rumours concerning Google’s forthcoming techy timepiece. According to notorious leakster @evleaks, Google has partnered with LG to make its smart watch. Google enlisted LG to make its Nexus 5 and Nexus 4 smart phones, so a partnership could well be on the cards. The tipster …

BARCELONA — Opera Software on Sunday launched a beta version of Max, its Android app designed to cut data usage by compressing video, photos, and text. The Norwegian browser company launched a closed beta of the app in December in the United States. Now the open beta will be open to anyone in the US and in Western Europe, with …

Eye-scanning firm EyeVerify is adding its eye-vein technology to AirWatch’s Secure Content Locker — a business-centric app that keeps your work documents secure from prying eyes. Unveiling its latest tie-up at mobile mega-show Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, EyeVerify says that businesses who use AirWatch’s technology can enable the biometric security from the AirWatch console, saving users the hassle of …

In the Interesting Timing Dept., WhatsApp — the messaging app acquired this week by Facebook for the eye-popping sum of $19 billion — is in the midst of an outage, after also reportedly experiencing a short run of downtime Friday night. The service became unavailable to a large number of users starting at about 11 a.m. PT Saturday, after a …

Related stories: How to get the most out of Google search Use Google Translate offline by downloading language packs Add a pop-up dictionary to Android Having an online dictionary with you at all times is a terrific convenience. Google’s “define” search feature is probably one of the quickest and most convenient ways to look up a word, but it’s only …

BARCELONA, Spain — Mobile World Congress doesn’t start until Monday — but for many, the show’s already on. The massive conference, devoted mostly to mobile phones and the mobile networks that support them, attracts thousands of people to this Mediterranean city in Catalonia, Spain’s northwest province and an area that’s been spared some of the country’s recent economic woes. To …