In a world where Android smartphones are potential Typhoid Annie’s in your pocket, all the big security companies have released Android Internet Security suites, with Vodafone and McAfee now joining forces to provide protection – and all important backup – for AUD $3 per month.

HTC’s Velocity 4G is the fastest smartphone in Australia, primarily because it’s the first to offer a 4G LTE chipset, and while more 4G models are clearly on the way, the ironic “wait” for ICS 4.0 to arrive with some velocity for the Velocity begins.

Close encounters between Australians and the fourth generation of smartphones can officially commence today down under, as HTC’s Velocity lands in the hands of those who pre-ordered, while anyone with the need to feel 4G’s raw speed can undoubtedly visit one of Telstra’s flagship T-Life stores for a rush of digital adrenaline.

XPAL, the company behind the popular “Powerskin” line of smartphone battery-and-case in one, as well as Energizer’s popular Energi to Go range, has announced an innovative “spare” mobile phone with a truly astounding battery life of up to 15 whopping years – while powered by a single AA battery.

A U.S. study published in January 2012 in the journal Injury Prevention has stated that the number of injuries and deaths of pedestrians wearing headphones in the United States has nearly tripled over the past six years.

Android activation means more mobile users will protect themselves from risk

The latest Facebook privacy scandal has erupted, with a report noting how easy it is to find people’s direct mobile numbers on Facebook, all thanks to people who’ve lost their phones, created an invite to ask friends to send their numbers over – without setting the invite to private, thus letting anyone on Facebook harvest the details.

Optus is expecting calls and messaging across its mobile network to go gangbusters right through the Christmas and New Year period, with we Aussies expected to pass on cheer and goodwill by making over 34 million calls and sending more than 65 million SMSs on the Optus network on Christmas Day alone.

With all of the smartphones and bells and whistles around these days, it's easy to assume that providers have forgotten those looking for a low-cost option for making the odd call. TeleChoice has its sights on that segment.

Yet another security company dusts off the crystal ball.  Here's what Kaspersky Labs sees in the year ahead.