If you like your gadgets, we had a real treat for you this week.

If you're interested in British companies taking on and beating the rest of the world, then we had news for you as well.

Telephone in technicolour

On Thursday, Vodafone came in to show off its latest new mobile phone. This wasn't just a new phone handset - those things are ten a penny.

This was the latest leap in mobile technology, developed in Japan, and we saw the first phone in Britain that's able to make use of it.

The mobile phone companies were caught on the hop by the craze for text messages. This time, they're trying to get ahead of the curve with picture messages.

The obvious difference about the new phone is colour. It has a large flip-up colour screen, which means no more black-and-white WAP, and more room to see the text.

That also helps with the second big change: pictures. No more strange logos or graphics; you can now look at proper pictures on your mobile, in colour, on a large screen.

You can receive them like a text message, and send your own using the built-in micro-camera in the case.

At 36p a shot, it's not much more expensive than a first-class stamp. You just know this is going to catch on with the kids - and I'll bet Vodafone's launching the phones now so that they're in the shops for Christmas.

The mobile phone companies were caught on the hop by the craze for text messages; they really didn't see it coming. This time, they're trying to get ahead of the curve with picture messages.

Two and a half G

In the jargon, the new technology we saw is called "two and a half" G. It's not as advanced as the new high-tech 3G services that will let us watch movies on the move, download music on our mobiles, and give us a full mobile internet service.

This 3G technology has already devoured billions of pounds of shareholders' money.

Remember the �22 billion the mobile companies gave the British Government for the rights to run the new services here? It didn't stop there.

They spent billions on similar licences across Europe, and then had to fork out more on building the networks needed to run the new technology.

And guess what? 3G is still not ready to roll.

We're about to see the start of technical trials - but the full customer launch could be at least another two years off.

And on Breakfast, the UK chief executive of Vodafone told us it could take much of the 20-year lifespan of the 3G licence before the company makes any money on it.

So there's an obvious question. If the new 2.5G service we saw this week is so good, why on earth did Vodafone spend heart-stopping amounts on money on the next stage forward?

It's certainly a question that angry shareholders are asking - after all, it's their money that's been flushed down the pan.

But it's like asking a mountaineer why she wants to climb Everest, or asking why we went to the moon, and want to go to Mars.

We do it because it's there. And, of course, we do it because we think there's money in it.

Vodafone is taking the lead in developing the new 3G technology because it thinks it will be a telecoms gold mine; that the new service will be so much better, we - and millions around the world - will willingly pay more to use it.

Reversal of fortune

The story we journalists tell you right now about Vodafone is the news Vodafone would rather you didn't hear.

It's about the slumping share price, the big losses, the billion-pound spending write-downs, the delays to new services, the monster pay packets for the bosses, and the company's refusal to say sorry for any of this.

But at some point, we're going to start telling you the other story - Vodafone, the world-beater. The British company that came from nothing to being one of the biggest in the land in 15 years. The British company that analysts say is best placed to benefit from the eventual recovery in the telecoms industry.

We'll need Vodafone's help to tell you this story, which is why I was so pleased we had their UK chief executive on the programme this week. I hope he'll be back.

The company is famed for its reluctance to give interviews to TV and radio, or explain itself to viewers and listeners.

Maybe this is a sign it's becoming less defensive, and more open about its business. Maybe Vodafone's bosses will even get around to making that apology to their shareholders.

A day at the motor show

I'm rather mystified about why I was sent to the Motor Show in the first place. Not only do I not own a car, I can't even drive.

The other big event for us this week was our day trip to Birmingham for the International Motor Show.

As you'll have gathered if you saw the final broadcast, I wasn't exactly sent into raptures by the new James Bond car, and its rocket launchers and machine guns.

In fact, I'm rather mystified about why I was sent to the Motor Show in the first place. Not only do I not own a car, I can't even drive.

I sort-of understand the car industry; just don't ask me to look under the bonnet.

The car industry is a useful example of why Vodafone's ability to stay on top is so remarkable.

We used to have a thriving British car industry. Now we just have a thriving car industry in Britain.

It isn't British any more because we fell behind with the technology, we stopped taking notice of what the customer wanted - and our productivity slipped, thanks to poor investment in equipment, and run-away pay claims.

You could argue that car workers and industry management just threw it all away.

That's why Vodafone's investment in new products is crucial. It keeps it ahead of the game.

And despite the complaints from its Berkshire neighbours, that's why it's important it throws noisy, exuberant parties for its workers.

It has some bright people, and they need to feel a valued part of the team.

We don't want the world-beating British phone industry to go the way of the car industry, do we?