Mobile World Congress

Google’s mobile phone ambitions have been a big talking point at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Several manufacturers including Texas Instruments and ARM showed off prototype handsets based on Android, the company’s mobile phone operating system. Android is Google’s attempt to break into the £300bn mobile market, and Android phones could go on sale this year. Read the story. Photograph: Lluis Gene/AFP

A slew of new products, including several new multimedia phones from Nokia, were launched at the Barcelona show. This is the N96, successor to the award-winning N95. Nokia is also developing touch screen technology, which it may include in its much-anticipated music phone. Read the story Photograph: PR

The congress also included some new form factors. This new handset from Toshiba, the G450, has an innovative keyboard arrangement to help you type on the move. On a lighter note, one company was offering a mobile service that would locate the nearest toilet, including ratings for cleanliness. Read the story Photograph: Andreu Dalmau/EPA

Microsoft was out in force in Barcelona, pushing its Windows Mobile platform. Robbie Bach, Microsoft's president of entertainment and devices, told the conference that mobile phones are 'devices that span your life'. Sony Ericsson gave the software giant a boost by launching its first Windows Mobile phone, called the Xperia X1 Photograph: Lluis Gene/AFP

But there were red faces at Research In Motion, after its BlackBerry service suffered technical problems in the US Photograph: Manu Fernandes/AP