3UK, previously one of the top electronic music retailers in the UK after iTunes, is embracing Nokia's Comes With Music offering. Interestingly, it's hitting their N95 8GB handsets - not the standard 5000 series devices. And that makes a lot of sense. If you already have an N95 8GB then you won't qualify. I understand its new handsets only. That's a bit of an arse. But understandable. The date of joy is Monday 3rd of November. So that's another operator out of the running as an Omnifone customer (I imagine). What next for their MusicStation service?

To what glorified walkie talkie business does the above internal mantra belong to? The clue is in the 'red' bit. Extra points if you define each of the above adjectives.

Tonight the MIR Show team is at A Digital Winter - an event showcasing a lot of new gizmos that will, apparently, be ready for your hard earned cash this Christmas. We will be taking a nose around and bringing you our viewpoint in Week 42's show coming this Monday.

In the past I've been a big fan of Verrus, the chaps who run the pay-by-text/phone system for most railway stations here in the UK. Is it still them?

However I think the system could (press one) be a lot (for help, press zero) eas-(press one)-ier. Take this example. This chap here in the picture got on the train with me this evening. He's got an iPhone. The first thing he did was dial Verrus and stick his iPhone on speakerphone so the whole sodding carriage gets to listen to the bollocks system. He didn't have an account. It took him five minutes of to-and-fro to create an account. Then he managed to pay, exclaiming words to the effect of, 'Flock me that was hard'. He had to write down the phone number for the system and the four digit location identifier on the back of an envelope. Hardly useful. He eventually paid for parking up until 11pm. Three quid. You should be able to text 7401 (for your location) then your car number plate and be whacked immediately for 3 quid on your phone bill. After 10am, that 3 quid should last you until midnight. Or similar. It's hugely annoying that this whole system isn't frictionless. There should be an iPhone application for this. There should be a Blackberry application. And so on. Mobile Operators should have sorted this. Built the functionality straight into your handset. Why are we still arsing about with parking. Parking! Why is it such a total arse? whatever your answers to this - pointing out the various issues - allow me to raise you this point: it sucks. I want to pay for parking - for goodness knows how many sundry items and services - simply. Via my handset and operator account, ideally. Stop trying to make money out of me by charging me nearly 50p a minute to call cross-operator (I'm looking at you, Vodafone) and start taking a decent percentage of my monthly expenditure.

I got a text message today from what reads like a young teenager in no small amount of distress. Goodness knows how they got my number - but it is public and associated with plenty of articles on text bullying services... So I'm assuming that they got hold of me that way. I got the details of the Samaritans and suggested talking - or texting - them. For the record, here are the details. It's pretty smart that they offer a text service. With the proliferation of unlimited PAYG text plans, it really is a useful medium for anyone seeking help - without having to (or being able to) speak on the phone: - - - - - You can call Samaritans on 08457909090 for the cost of a local call or text them on 07725909090 (UK). They try to text you back in 10 minutes

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We're at the Future of Web Apps Conference this evening and we've got lots of interesting stuff to put in this Monday's MIR Show!

This is Ollie completing the setup of my Vodafone Netbook. He popped up Mobile Industry Review on it to show me the 3G+ data speed working. Whilst we were setting it up, Ollie upsold two ladies who came in as well - I think they might buy as I left the shop. I got it home and showed it to my wife who was outraged that I didn't get her one ("And it was ONLY 25 pounds a month?? Where is mine?"). So back to Vodafone this afternoon. I think they well sell a ton.

How stupid is that? Vodafone Passport works in Japan but NOT the United States?

Ridiculous. Vodafone you really need to sort this out.

The chap is setting it up for me now. I hope it's good!

And this is the one I'm purchasing...