Whilst it still lags along way behind the Android Market, and even further still behind the Apple App Store, BlackBerry App World has done a lot to enhance the opinion of BlackBerry devices as smartphones in their own right, and not just email devices.

The announcement was sent out in a discreet way via the BlackBerry Twitter account. Whilst the BlackBerry platform is not as popular with developers, there still remains a strong line up of popular titles, with business focussed apps offering travel info and hotel bookings among the most popular.

One other reason that could explain the rather slow growth in the popularity of App World, is the actual App World app isn't always pre-loaded on the handsets, meaning many BlackBerry customers are not aware that there is a central store for downloading applications. To get App World on your device, click on this App World link and follow the instructions from there.

O2 have launched a Priority iPhone app, designed to help all O2 Priority users get early access to tickets for gigs and concerts. Tickets for Priority users are generally available up to 48 hours ahead of general release, giving O2 users a head start on booking places to see their favourite bands.

The app, which is free to download from the iTunes store, is designed to make it easier and quicker to get tickets, making the whole process more streamlined and user friendly. Now the iPhone app is out and available to download, O2 say they will also be looking to deliver a Priority app across other platforms, with a Priority app for Android sure to appear soon.

To register as an O2 Priority user, simply click on the link and follow the instructions from there. Once registered, all Priority customers will be given access to the online Blueroom, where videos, games and other content is stored exclusively for O2 Priority customers. As well as concerts and other events, O2 also partners with Arsenal football club and the England rugby team.

BT are offering free access to 1.6 million WiFi hotspots for users of Android handsets and the iPhone, allowing subscribers of BT's Total Broadband package to connect to the 'net via WiFi whenever they are in range of a hotspot.

The main part of the WiFi access is given by BT's Openzone network, which consists of around 4,000 hotspots, but there is also access to BT's FON WiFi network community. Users can set their devices to connect automatically whenever in range to an available hotspot, all you need is your BT Total Broadband username and password.

The apps are available to download now, through the Android Market and Apple App Store.

Nokia have signed up Pamela Anderson to star in a short film that will be shot entirely on a Nokia N8, and there is a starring role available to members of the public, which will involve filming a bedroom scene with the Hollywood star.

The film will also star Ed Westwick, and a role is also available to be filmed with Westwick in an elevator scene. If you want to star with Pamela Anderson, you can sign up at starwithpam.com, and to be in the film part with Ed Westwick the link is starwithed.com

The short film will be titled The Commuter, and gets a real life premiere in October, and will be directed by the McHenry brothers. Nokia will be using the short film to demonstrate the media qualities of the N8, which offers a 12.0 Megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash and HD video recording functionality.

Head of Marketing at Nokia UK, John Nicols, said: “We wanted to create something very special for the launch of the N8 that showcases the Hollywood quality of its camera.” “The boldness of the campaign reflects the boldness of the device itself.”

The Nokia N8 is expected to launch to market within the next few weeks.

It has been confirmed that from October 5th, customers on Orange and T-Mobile will be able to 'roam' across either network, in a a prelude to full, automatic roaming being enabled some time next year.

Initially, customers will have to opt in to the cross network roaming system, as some handsets on either network may not be able to access all features when roaming. By opting in, it gives customer services a chance to inform customers of some issues that could arise.

In the run up to October 5th, adverts from T-Mobile and Orange will be run to inform customers of the new roaming option, and will carry the tag line 'Inspired by Everything Everywhere'. The strength of the combined networks is seen as a real positive for the new venture, as networks become increasingly overloaded by data traffic from smartphones. It was also confirmed that T-Mobile will be getting the HD Voice upgrade which was recently activated across the Orange network.

Everything Everywhere CEO Tom Alexander said “We see this as a step change for Everything Everywhere,” “Moving forward we want to provide a smart multi-network capability, so that customers can roam onto different networks be they fixed, mobile or hotspot WiFi. Our responsibility is to make that as seamless as possible.”

It seems the Tablet arena is no longer strictly the preserve of Apple and the iPad, as Samsung have confirmed the Samsung Galaxy Tab, a Tablet style touch screen device running on Android.

There is no doubt that other Android based Tablet products will be hitting the shelves soon, as such the competition is going to get very tough very quickly for the iPad and the Galaxy Tab. However, looking at the spec list it appears the Galaxy Tab has enough about it to handle any competitors.

The Galaxy Tab has mobile connectivity built in, but this is not going to replace your mobile phone anytime soon. The device weighs a mighty 380g, and measures 190 x 120 x 12mm, and boasts an impressive 7.0 inch display. The display itself is a TFT capacitive screen, supporting up to 16 million colours, and with a pixel resolution of 600 x 1024. The display supports multi touch input, and has a built in accelerometer. There is also a three axis gyro sensor, and built in is one of our favourite products for text entry, Swype.

Powered by an ARM Cortex A8 processor, the Galaxy Tab runs on Android OS 2.2, and is able to be upgraded to future Android OS releases. There are two versions of the Galaxy Tab to be released, one with an internal memory capacity of 16 GB, the other with 32 GB. This can be further expanded with the use of Micro SD memory cards, officially supporting cards up to 32 GB in size.

The Galaxy Tab is a quad band GSM product, and also supports 3G, along with HSDPA and HSUPA for high speed data transfers. WiFi 802.11 b/g/n is also included, as is Bluetooth v3.0, with A2DP support. The Galaxy Tab also incorporates a GPS receiver, with aGPS support, for use with Google Maps and a variety of location based services.

On the media side, the Galaxy Tab is a powerhouse device, with a list of features that reads like a Who's who, or a What's what of technical prowess. Starting from an inclusive 3.2 Megapixel camera, with autofocus and LED flash, the Galaxy Tab also offers full HD video playback, with a built in TV OUT function, an on board video and imaging editor plus support for a vast array of digital media formats, including DivX, as well as MP4, WMV, MP3, AAC and FLAC. There is also a built in 3.5mm audio jack for private listening of music or videos on the device.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is a pretty impressive device, and as a first Tablet device running on Android, it has certainly set the bar at a high level for others to compete against. Then again, one of the great things about the Android OS is the huge variety of devices available that use that system, and judging by the variety of mobile phones already available, I wouldn't be surprised to see a whole range of Tablet devices being released in the coming months, that will suit pretty much every budget.

Click here to view the embedded video.

So far, Swype has been limited to some Samsung devices, and a limited beta trial, and has only been available on devices running the Android OS. Now that has changed, as the guys over at Nokia Beta Labs have announced the limited availability of Swype for S60 5th Edition handsets, which includes the Nokia N97, Nokia N97 Mini, Nokia 5800 and Nokia 5230.

Click on this link to download Swype for Symbian, and also check out this video below of Swype in action:

Click here to view the embedded video.

For a call to be completed in HD quality, both ends of the call need compatible equipment, so it isn't going to make a difference if you happen to be calling a landline. Also, there are currently only two compatible HD voice handsets available on the Orange network, the Nokia E5 and Samsung Omnia Pro 5230, although it is expected that more handsets will be launched in the coming months. Although Apple have already stated they will not be supporting HD Voice, other manufacturers are expected to, so there should be a fair selection of handsets to choose from.

Vice President of Business at Everything Everywhere, the company now running Orange, Martin Stiven said: “HD Voice is going to change the way businesses are able to communicate through our mobiles from conducting calls in places that were not previously possible to the ability to hear emotion in people's voices. People are going to love the clarity of calls and the lack of background noise. Once you've used it, you will want to keep it.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cute Circuit is a London based fashion company, that focusses on creating clothes that can be described as 'wearable technology', clothing that integrates modern technology with the use of smart materials.

One of the obvious uses for smart technology would be the creation of a wearable mobile phone, and whilst Cute Circuit are not the first to bring a wearable phone to the market, the Cute Circuit M Dress is certainly one of the better looking efforts to date.

The dress is so designed to work with a standard SIM card, and aims to be an answer to the problem many women have of where to put their phone on a night out. The SIM card is placed in a small slot, underneath the label of the dress, and when a call comes in, the dress 'rings', and the call is answered by the simple action of raising of bringing your hand to your ear, whilst lowering the hand ends the call.

The circuitry of the handset is woven into the fabric of the dress itself, which helps to keep the dress simple and stylish, although it isn't instantly clear how one would initiate a call with the dress, and also, where does the battery go?

The dress is due to be launched in 2011.

The Sony corporation has been a long time sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, and that association has been further extended to include Sony Ericsson, with the Sony Ericsson brand now the official mobile handset for the Champions League.

Part of the deal will include Sony Ericsson providing the 'best possible' experience, by utilising the GPS functionality of their smartphone handsets as well as developing an application with UEFA to be used by fans who are watching the games either at the stadium or elsewhere with friends.

Lennard Hoornik, Corporate Vice President and Head of Global Marketing at Sony Ericsson said: “Using the existing GPS capabilities of our Xperia Smartphones to enhance the fan experience is an exciting part of this programme. This new initiative will build on our other ongoing worldwide sponsorship campaigns.”