Pocket Picks round-up: May 28th - Google blocking rooted phones, Microsoft reveals ‘Mango’, Google Wallet launches, Hackers go after Sony Ericsson

NFC (Near Field Communication) is apparently a technology that we’ll be all using in the near future, if a number of mobile networks and tech giants have any say in the matter.

Personally, the idea of paying for goods using my phone as a ‘virtual’ credit card sounds about as appealing as hanging a sign in front of my door when I go out that reads ‘Burgle Me!’, but I know others are less concerned about the possible security issues.

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter in the comments thread below.

It’s been literally years since we knew that Google was investigating NFC, a tech that has been adopted in the far east but which is relatively unknown here in the west.

Now the company has finally revealed Google Wallet - the NFC system for Android that allows you to pay for goods with your phone, merely by swiping it against an NFC reader.

You know - those popular and well-established items you never see anywhere.

The system only works with Mastercard and pre-paid Google cards so far, and will begin in the US with Subway, Macy's, and Walgreens, among others.

Before you race off with your Atrix or Desire HD to purchase a sub by waving your phone in the air, please remember that the only Android phone currently available that supports the tech is Google/Samsung’s own Nexus S.

Expect a lot more to follow, however.

Anyone with a rooted Android phone who was looking forward to trying out the new Google Movies service (available in the US on the Xoom only for the time being) will be disappointed to learn that the big ‘G’ is locking you boys out of the party.

In a move that’s sure to annoy a number of rooters, Google has implemented checks on the service that prevent the downloading of movies by anyone who’s not still straight-jacketed by their operator/handset manufacturer.

It’s probably a condition in the contract the company signed with the movie makers, considering the films will certainly have DRM measures to stop illegal copying - something that could theoretically be circumnavigated should a person have access to the full phone (and knows his bits from his bytes).

Still, it’s unlikely to silence a growing number of people questioning just how open the platform really is.

Talking of closed platforms, Microsoft lifted the lid on the highly-anticipated Mango update for Windows Phone this week.

Mango is looking almost like a completely different OS from the one we’re currently using, integrating multi-tasking (in a similar style to how BlackBerry’s new OS functions), even tighter social network integration (specifically Twitter), and cross-media ‘threads’ between all the different means of messaging.

If you’re wondering why I’ve not been writing ‘Windows Phone 7’ these past few paragraphs, it’s because the company has also sneakily renamed the platform - cutting off the numeral in the process.

I guess Microsoft realised that calling a platform with a different name to the last, but adding a number as if it were a direct successor, probably wasn’t the wisest way of differentiating between the two.

A group of Lebanese hackers going by the name of Idahca managed to breach Sony Ericsson’s Canadian online store this week, compromising the personal details of over 2,000 customers in the process.

SE has said that no credit card details were taken in the attack, but it’s still not a nice thing to have your date of birth, name, address et al taken in any case.

This latest security breach follows a string of attacks on partner company Sony’s systems across the world, including the now infamous PSN breach.

There’s no evidence that this group was behind any of the others (fingers have been pointed to Anonymous in those other cases), but that will do little to ease concerns of Sony customers who have registered their details in some of the company’s other web services.

Laugh all you want, Americans, but Britain is finally joining the 21st century and starting to deploy 4G wireless connections. Some day we might even get these new-fangled ‘car’ things, too.

BT has begun trials of the new(ish) service in the warm, wet county of Cornwall - Newquay to be exact - and not Cambridge, despite it being the tech capital of the country and where this writer lives (I’m not jealous, by the way).

Residents of the picturesque seaside town will be able to apply for the three month trial, which starts in September, by filling in the forms found here.