O2 has officially confirmed its 4G LTE network will go live in the UK on August 29, with SIM-Only tariffs starting at just £26 a month.

The company will switch on its next-gen network in London and Leeds and Bradford on the first day, with plans to open up 4G access in ten more areas before 2013 comes to a close.

Those additional cities will be: Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry, Sheffield, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

In its announcement the network did not go into specifics regarding the range of tariffs it will offer at launch, but told TechRadar 'Pay Monthly' contracts will be 'beyond' the cheapest £26 a month SIM-Only deals.

'Oxygen of modern life'

The launch finally brings some competition for 4G trailblazer EE, which has had the UK market to itself since October 2012 and racked up close to 700,000 customers already.

As has been widely documented, EE took its rivals by surprise by winning permission from Ofcom to convert existing 1800Mhz spectrum for 4G use, while the rest were forced to wait for the spectrum auction.

O2 splashed out £550m to secure its own 4G spectrum earlier this year including the largest proportion of the low frequency 800MHz frequency. The network's announcement comes on the day that spectrum was cleared for use by Ofcom.

The CEO of Telefonica UK, which owns O2, Ronan Dunne said: "Digital connectivity will be made ubiquitous by 4G and become the oxygen of modern life. It is our intention to use 4G to inspire the nation through the possibilities of technology, encouraging people to live more, do more and be more with O2.

"The full potential of 4G is as yet unexplored, but what we can be sure of is that it will allow for a whole new world of opportunity that people are now ready for. Over half of our customers say they use more data than two years ago and even more use wifi wherever they go, to always stay connected. Given this trend, there is no doubt that 4G will transform our lives, be it as consumers, in business or through public sector services."

Happiness, guaranteed

The company said that all 4G contracts will come with a 30-day Happiness Guarantee enabling customers to be transferred to a 3G tariff if unsatisfied with 4G speeds.

O2 also revealed it will provide provide options for businesses and, naturally, give all customers access to its 9,000 free O2 Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK.

The company recently teased the 4G launch was 'right around the corner' with a new Rocky-inspired Fit for 4G campaign.

We'll bring you specific details of tariffs as soon as O2 announces them, but at last UK mobile users are about to have a little choice when it comes to 4G and, hopefully, some better deals.

As if BlackBerry hasn't had a difficult enough time re-establishing itself in the Android/iOS dominated market, the latest BlackBerry 10 update has certainly caused a few more brows to furrow.

According to N4BB, the latest operating system update has stymied the messaging attempts of a decent portion of the BB10 userbase.

Users have reported an inability to use messaging, while some others claim the update has erased their message history, leaving them unable to see what people said in the past, or are even texting them today.

While it's not uncommon for OS updates to cause issues for some users regardless of the device, accidentally removing functionality like the ability to send SMS texts is an bad omen for the re-emerging BlackBerry.

Missed messages

Since launching its new line of phones and the BB10 OS, BlackBerry has been struggling to gain the marketshare it lost to the likes of Android, iOS, and even Windows Phone 8.

Even with the Z10 and Q10 battling it out with the likes of the the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5, BlackBerry hasn't been able to gain much ground (if any at all) these past few months.

Now, even if only a minority of BB10 users are feeling the effects of the message-eating update, the company is even failing those who adopted the fledgling phones.

The update hasn't yet hit U.S. consumers (it's due later this summer), but others around the globe in places like Canada, Europe, and some Asian markets are feeling the burn.

BlackBerry is now looking into the issue, but these types of growing pains won't win the company any favors from those thinking about making a switch any time soon.

• Which smartphone is best for you business: Android or BlackBerry?

Motorola's Moto X could be the next device to sport the new nano-SIM cards, judging by a photo that reportedly leaked out of Hong Kong this week.

Engadget today published this photo, which appears to show the Moto X with its nano-SIM tray ejected.

The nano-SIM is 40 percent smaller than the micro-SIM currently used in most devices, so it's easily recognizable, and the phone in the image appears to match up with some previous Moto X leaks.

If so, the Moto X will be the third handset, after the iPhone 5 and Asus Padfone Infinity, to adopt nano-SIM.

Casualties of the SIM war

The Padfone Infinity phablet's use of nano-SIM proves that you don't have to be as small as the iPhone 5 to utilize the new, smaller SIM standard.

But it's unclear why Motorola would choose to switch to nano-SIM, especially given its opposition of the technology.

A coalition formed of Motorola, BlackBerry (still RIM then), and Nokia dueled with Apple over what the next generation of SIM cards would look like, and Apple emerged victorious last year.

Nokia said in a statement at the time that Apple's nano-SIM was "technically inferior" to its own tech and even to the existing micro-SIM, and that "the existing micro-SIM (3FF) will continue to be a preferred option for many manufacturers."

But if today's leak turns out to be the real deal then it would seem Nokia's former SIM war bedfellow, Motorola, disagrees.

Designed by you

The phone formerly known as the Motorola X Phone is rumored to be highly customizable, coming with the possible tag line "designed by you."

Google's Motorola advisor Guy Kawasaki previously suggested that the Moto X will be as customizable as a classic Porsche, whatever that means.

The exact degree of that customization has yet to be seen, but there's a whole rainbow of colors rumored as well.

• We won't have to wait much longer to find out for sure: the Moto X launches Aug. 1, and rumor has it the X shipped to carriers yesterday.

After its launch on iPhone last month, Office Mobile is now rolling over to Android starting today.

Making the announcement on its blog, Microsoft declared that phones supporting Android 4.0 or higher will be able to get the app allowing access to Word, Excel and Powerpoint, although Android tablets won't be getting in on the action for now.

Of course, you'll also have to have bought Office 365 Home Premium and ProPlus service. They ain't giving that stuff away for free, you know?

Keep rolling

The app itself, however, is free of charge. And when you've downloaded it (and subscribed) you'll be able to keep working on documents on your phone when you leave your PC, with all files stored in Microsoft's SkyDrive.

Office Mobile is more for editing than actual document creation though, so don't expect to be getting the full 365 experience.

Office Mobile is available in the Google Play store today for US Android users. Microsoft says it will then be "gradually" expanding the software to 33 other languages.

Samsung could be about to ditch nature and shake up its smartphone design if a new patent is any indication.

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now a few months old - and a slew of S4 variants out the door - it's little surprise that we're hearing rumblings of what could be next.

The patent images, unearthed by Patent Bolt, show off a rectangular shape but with edges that are slanted. All in all, it looks a little bit more in line with the HTC One, moving away from Samsung's current nature-inspired look.

Brand new galaxy

Samsung applied for the patents in 2012 in the US and 2011 in South Korea, so they're not all that new and there's nothing here to indicate when, or indeed if, such a handset might materialise.

But Samsung was no doubt thinking about its S4 follow-up during that time. Or, this could even be for a possible variant of the S4, though we'd say that's less likely given the design overhaul.

And let's not discount the Samsung Galaxy Note series either, although the design doesn't agree with the Galaxy Note 3 leaks we've been seeing.

We'd previously heard rumours that the Galaxy S5 could be the first Samsung phone with a fully aluminium chassis although these new patents give no indication of the materials that could be used on the new handset.

But throw this new patent into the bag and we might be getting a vague idea of where Samsung is heading.

In response to the accusation that it has been jimmying Galaxy S4 benchmark results just to make its handset look good, Samsung says nuh-uh guv'nor.

The company's statement explains that whatever GPU frequencies "BenchmarkBooster" rigged up on the Exynos 5 variant are "not intended to improve certain benchmark results" and the same maximum settings can just as easily be used to optimise performance on a users' handset based on what they're using it for.

That's as may be, Samsung, but using phrases like "BenchmarkBooster" in your code is still a bit suspicious in our book. It seems pretty clear that, regardless of whether these maxed out settings have real world use, Samsung was also hoping to beef up its benchmark results.

Now for the science

The full statement reads: "Under ordinary conditions, the Galaxy S4 has been designed to allow a maximum GPU frequency of 533MHz.

"However, the maximum GPU frequency is lowered to 480MHz for certain gaming apps that may cause an overload, when they are used for a prolonged period of time in full-screen mode.

"Meanwhile, a maximum GPU frequency of 533MHz is applicable for running apps that are usually used in full-screen mode, such as the S Browser, Gallery, Camera, Video Player and certain benchmarking apps, which also demand substantial performance.

"The maximum GPU frequencies for the Galaxy S4 have been varied to provide optimal user experience for our customers, and were not intended to improve certain benchmark results. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best possible user experience."

So to summarise: Samsung made sure its phone aced the benchmark tests, it got slightly found out, it justified the decision, phones keep going as before. Whoop.

Eastern Scotland, Cumbria, central Wales and Strabane will be the first parts of the UK to benefit from the Government's £150 million spend on improving mobile phone coverage in rural areas.

They are covered by the first phase of the Mobile Infrastructure Project, details of which have been published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on a map outlining the different stages of the investment. The first sites are expected to go live by the end of this year, and the Government is aiming to have them all in place by 2015.

The Government is providing the money for communications infrastructure company Arqiva to install the masts. The company has begun to identify suitable sites and apply for planning permission.

Four mobile network operators – EE, Telefonica, Three and Vodafone – will use the sites and cover the operating costs over the next 20 years.

• Check out our round-up of the best smartphones for business.

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said: "This project will see mobile phone coverage extended to many of the people who currently live and work in areas where there is none. The project will provide a significant boost to local economies across the UK, and will be instrumental in helping Britain win the global race."

The DCMS has acknowledged that the project will not reach every area without mobile coverage. A spokesman told TRPro it will not be able to identify the 'not spots' until the survey work is completed, but that it is likely that a few areas will not get mast coverage in the long term because it would be uneconomical, and would need an alternative such as satellite phones.

With September 4 inching ever closer, more leaks about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are trickling out and, while we're still missing a proper photo of the thing, today's sees the handsets insides displayed for all to see.

These photos are supposedly of a prototype Note 3 and were posted on Weibo by an "insider" known as C Technology - yes, we'd say keep the sodium chloride handy for this one.

The photos aren't really giving much away. The battery details have been scrubbed out and there's no way of knowing if the recently revealed 3GB RAM unit is present or not.

Elusive

Samsung's J. K. Shin has said that the Note 3 will come with a 5.9-inch screen, which could give some clues as to the size of the device itself.

However, the latest word is that there will be around three different Note 3 models with screen sizes ranging from 5.5-inch to 6-inches. Who knows which, if any, these photos are of.

We're also expecting an octa-core processor and a 13MP camera to feature when the handset lands.

The fuzzy nature of the snaps make it hard to tell if the chassis is plastic or some kind of aluminium unibody type affair - we're leaning towards plastic though, sorry metal fans.

Anyway, not too long until IFA 2013 and the big Note 3 reveal. Feel free to fill your boots poring over these photos til then.

• What else is what with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3? Find out everything we know so far