Research In Motion (RIM) announced that the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 will be released for download today. BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 is said to deliver an enhanced tablet experience and allows users to interface with the BlackBerry PlayBook in new ways.

“Building on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s proven web browsing, multimedia and multitasking strengths, the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 introduces a range of new communications and productivity enhancements as well as expanded app and content support,” said David J. Smith, SVP mobile computing, Research In Motion.

New BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 features include:

• Updated BlackBerry Bridge app
• Improved mobile productivity
• New apps and content
• Integrated email client with a powerful unified inbox
• Social integration with calendar and contacts apps

In conjunction with the release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, RIM is making available an initial release of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion that will include support for managing BlackBerry PlayBook tablets and BlackBerry smartphones in an enterprise. The full release of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion (with mobile device management capabilities for iOS and Android devices) is planned for general availability in late March 2012.

Palestine Telecommunications (PalTel) has reported full-year revenues for 2011 rose by 9.4 per cent to US$522 million. Net income was also up, by 5.1 per cent to US$128 million.

"The Group was able to achieve another impeccable set of operational results despite a difficult year of increased competition, regional turmoil and lingering financial crisis in global markets," commented Sabih Masri, chairman of PalTel.

Fixed line subscribers witnessed 6.1 per cent growth to number 385,000 at the end of the year, with the average monthly revenue per fixed line subscriber reaching US$21.1, up from US$20.2 for the full-year 2010.

PalTel counted 2.42 million mobile subscribers at the end of 2011, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 7.4 per cent. Ninety per cent of the installed base is prepaid.

Blended ARPU per month declined by 1.8 per cent to reach US$15.1 and the decrease was attributable to the lower ARPU of new customers and the offer of larger discounts to customers.

PalTel’s data segment achieved a 44.5 per cent growth rate in the number of ADSL lines, reaching 156,000 lines at the end of the year. This increase in customer base was accompanied by a decline in ARPU, which reached US$18.8 in 2011 compared to US$25.8 in 2010. In addition, the penetration rate of the ADSL (per landline) increased from 29.8 per cent to 40.5% at the end year 2011.

Twitter has admitted copying entire address books from smartphones and storing the data on its servers, often without customers’ knowledge.

Access to the address book is enabled when users click on the "Find Friends" feature on smartphone apps.

Two US congressmen have written to Apple asking why the firm allows the practice on its iPhone, as it contravenes app developer guidelines.

Twitter has said it will update its privacy policy to be more explicit.

The practice came to light when an app developer in Singapore noticed that his contacts had been copied from his iPhone address book without his consent by a social network called Path.

Dave Morin, CEO of Path, apologised and said Path would ask users to opt in to share their contact information.

However, he noted separately that it was an "industry best practice" to upload or import address book information.

iPhone apps by social sites including Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Foodspotting and Yelp are also reported to access the address book.

However, Facebook has told the BBC that its app will only upload address information if the user opts to sync their contacts with the website.

Critics have noted that these apps are all available for download from Apple’s iTunes store, even though the practice of copying address book contacts without prior consent appears to violate its user guidelines.

Social networks have said that data taken from smartphones – which includes names, phone numbers and email addresses – is used only to identify friends who used the same service, and notify the user.

Twitter said it would update its app in the wake of the disclosure, and clarify its privacy policy for users.

Telenor is reported to be spending US$374.4 million to increase its stake in VimpelCom to 36.36 per cent and plans to drop its action against VimpelCom that was triggered by the firm’s acquisition of Egypt’s Weather Investments last year.

Telenor is said to be buying the shares from Weather Investments II, which is the investment vehicle through which Naguib Sawiris and his family hold their interests in VimpelCom.

In connection with the transaction, Telenor has withdrawn all its claims against Altimo and VimpelCom in the pending arbitration proceeding, and will work to expand the VimpelCom board to eleven members.

Telenor’s withdrawal of its claims will result in the termination of the VimpelCom shareholders agreement.

"This transaction takes Telenor to approximately the same voting position as a successful outcome of the arbitration process would have achieved, and is therefore a commercial solution we are happy with," said Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Telenor’s CEO. "The withdrawal of the arbitration claim will prevent further dilution of the VimpelCom shareholders, and it will enable a more normal corporate governance situation in VimpelCom. We will work to expand the VimpelCom board to eleven members. Together with the other shareholders we will continue our contribution to the industrial development of VimpelCom as we always have done."

Simultaneously with Telenor’s purchase of VimpelCom preferred shares from Weather, Telenor and Weather have entered into certain put and call arrangements regarding the remaining 71,000,000 VimpelCom preferred shares held by Weather.

Telenor Group has issued a notice to its Indian partner Unitech, that it will seek indemnity and compensation following the cancellation of Uninor’s 22 licences by the Supreme Court of India.

Earlier this month, India’s Supreme Court passed an order to revoke 122 licences issued to all operators on and from January 10, 2008. This included all licences issued to Uninor. The Supreme Court decision refers to actions that happened prior to Telenor Group’s entrance into India.

Telenor Group holds Unitech liable for the breach of warranties related to the cancellation of the licences – seeking compensation for all investment, guarantees and damages caused by the Supreme Court Order. Telenor Group also made an indemnity claim against Unitech for the failure to obtain spectrum in the strategically critical Delhi circle.

"The legality and validity of the licences was a fundamental term of the share subscription agreement between Telenor Group and Unitech Limited. We believe that the Supreme Court’s cancellation of the Unified Access Service Licences (UASL) conclusively demonstrates a clear breach of Unitech’s warranties," said Pål Wien Espen, group general counsel, Telenor Group.

In the share subscription agreement between the partners, Unitech had agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Telenor Group from all damages which may be suffered as a result of breach of any of the agreed warranties.

"The fact is that Uninor as a consequence of the judgment will no longer hold any UASLs. Telenor will therefore exercise its entitled right under the share subscription agreement to hold Unitech Ltd. liable to indemnify and compensate Telenor Group for its investment in India," Espen said.

Telenor Group also said that it will consider every option available to secure the continued successful development of its mobile services in the country and the telco will start the process of looking for a new Indian partner.

Telenor Group invested INR 61 billion (US$1.54 billion) for 67.25 per cent ownership in Uninor, and additionally is also fully guaranteeing for INR 80 billion (US$1.4 billion) of short-term debt.