The iPhone will launch on a second British network next week, but with little in the way of price competition. It could be an indicator of what competition for AT&T could mean in the much larger U.S. market.

The forthcoming Motorola Droid handset will be the first to feature GPS tools based on Google technology. The handset will launch on Verizon on Nov. 6.

The Android operating system has had a double boost with announcements today. Sprint is to become the second network to carry the device in the U.S., while Europe’s T-Mobile is to sell the first pre-paid Android device.

Microsoft has made clear that it won’t be producing a Zune-based challenger to the iPhone. The firm says it will stick to software on mobile devices and claims Windows Mobile 10 will outperform the iPhone on web browsing.

Netbooks to be used to sell cell phones. This is a most unusual situation but it might just work. And if it does it will change the world of communications.

A year ago Google had only just unveiled Android, its open-source mobile operating system. Now there is the G1 on display promoting Android and lots more queing up.