3GSM Diary: More from Microsoft, Sarin's stand-up act and adult content for your handheld

COMMENT Some would say this hasn't been the biggest week in Microsoft's mobile history. Maybe we expect too many eyebrow-raising pushes. The latest rumour, however, is that we haven't seen the last announcement from the Redmond giant. A device in association with Vodafone, perhaps using Wi-Fi and - gasp - compatible with pre-2003 versions of Exchange could be about to be unveiled.

Maybe it won't use Windows Mobile Smartphone. After all, wasn't Vodafone's CEO recently calling it immature? Eyes will be on both companies, only...

"Don't put your son on the stage, Mrs Sarin." Doh, too late... OK, so the CEO of Vodafone, still in the hot seat barely six months, remember, is an accomplished speaker and could end up being as good a leader as Sir Chris, albeit in a different way. I just wish he'd sort out the opening gags.

Take the ITU Telecom World event last October. Addressing a packed auditorium he opened with a "Don't turn off those mobiles - it's all revenue for us" - or words to that effect. How everyone chuckled.

Then on Monday here he addresses a Nokia press conference, opening with a "Don't turn off those mobiles - it's all revenue for us" - to polite smiles. (Journos - tough crowd.)

Fast forward 24 hours and his keynote (OK, so it was all in a 'fireside chat' stylee) kicks off with, wait for it: "Don't turn off those mobiles - but your ringtones aren't particularly exciting!"

A variation, yes, but still not great. Anyway, it's not as if Paul Merton would try to advise us about mobiles. (Suggestions as to Sarin's ringtone are most welcome, by the way, just pop an email to editorial@silicon.com.)

Talking of advice, it turns out T-Mobile's Rene Obermann, one of Sarin's archrivals, is the latest to cut costs in the market research department. Why pay for all those studies and focus groups when your nine-year-old daughter is a font of knowledge? He's not the first executive to find out about mobile phone usage habits from his kids - though perhaps one of the youngest, a CEO not yet in his forties.

Besides those two characters (Sarin and Obermann), this year's show has been characterised by the presence of over 70 operator CEOs, meeting at the first GSM Association Leadership Summit. Hats off for this get-together. They apparently discussed issues including phone theft, standardising messaging (damn those proprietary IM offerings), spreading the use of SIM cards for authentication and adult content.

On the last subject, apparently one of the assembled head honchos pleaded with his peers to not "seek the easy dollar" from "on the margin" content. Understand what that means? There's easy money in porn but is the industry that desperate for content people will pay for? Don't bet against 3G naughtiness, with heavy doses of PR and safeguarding minors initiatives.

Indeed, "being a very responsible citizen" was a theme from those at the helm of the organistion heading the event, namely the GSM Association. It is fostering a sense of community among GSM operators that is to be welcomed and celebrating the billionth GSM user. That landmark was reached last week and I wish we could figure out exactly who it was.

Now, the billionth user stat may sound familiar. In fact, you may recall, the billionth mobile phone was shipped some months back. It's just a shame the GSMA doesn't seem to want to acknowledge other standards and the role they're playing. It barely even wants to utter W-CDMA - the natural 3G evolution path from GSM - because of the four letters that finish that acronym.

Still, it is its shindig. (If there's no '3GSM Diary - day 3', then that's because they wouldn't let me back in.)