Webwire: Facebook value hits $70b; Apple mulls pre-pay phone

The latest purchase of Facebook shares, by investment fund GSV Capital, values the social networking site at around $70 billion (€49 billion)
 
A financial analyst expects Apple to launch a mid-range iPhone for pre-pay subscribers in September.
 
A consortium including BT, Microsoft, Sky and the BBC will tomorrow commence a trial of “super Wi-Fi” using white space spectrum in the UK.
 
Nokia claims several options are open for its Nokia Siemens joint venture, in response to speculation attempts to sell the infrastructure business to private equity firms have stalled.
 
Sina and Tencent are vying to become China's Twitter and Facebook, with Tencent challenging Sina's microblogging leadership while both explore new social media services.
 
Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions are among the investors in a $24 million (€16.8 million) funding round by US-based mobile payment company ViVOtech.