In today’s mobile news roundup: iPad mini accessories already available; Amazon to acquire TI mobile chip business; and network carrier 3 offers a fun way to keep an eye on your monthly phone bill.

iPad mini accessories now available

Though Apple has yet to send out invites for next week’s rumored event to launch the iPad mini, retail shops already have accessories available for the small tablet.  Brian White, an analyst for Topeka, has been travelling all over Asia to check out consumer electronics companies and was amazed by how many iPad mini accessories were already available in the market, ready to be sold when the iPad mini is officially announced.

“We uncovered over twenty suppliers that showed us accessories for the iPad Mini,” White said. “Some already have the accessories boxed, labeled and ready for order.”

White stated that one of the suppliers had a “pilot” iPad mini, and he was impressed by the size as it fit perfectly in his hands.  He also predicted that Apple will be selling between 5-7 million iPad minis by December.

Amazon to acquire TI mobile chip business

According to Calcalist, Amazon is said to be in “advanced negotiations” to acquire the mobile chips business of Texas Instrument after the company announced earlier this month that they were considering selling their mobile chips business.  Amazon may be TI’s most important customer, especially with the popularity of the Kindle Fire tablet.  But Amazon’s rival, Barnes & Noble, is also a customer of TI for their Nook Tablets and it seems like Amazon wants their competitor to come knocking on their door or look somewhere else for their tablet chips.  According to TI, the mobile market doesn’t appeal to them anymore but they plan to continue to develop chips for other products, like automobiles.

3 offers fun way of keeping an eye on monthly phone bill

Network carrier 3 teamed up with design firm Fjord and came up with an Android and iOS app that helps users keep track of their phone use the fun and easy way.  Many subscribers are plagued with the issue of keeping in the confines of their monthly plan and keeping track an eye on phone use is quite a pain in the a$$.  So they came up with the Android and iOS app, My 3.  What makes My 3 different from other data tracking apps is that it’s focused on the visual aspect of a report so in just one look, you’ll know who of your contacts you call the most, text the most, and which internet dependent activity consumes much of your data plan.

“With My 3, we wanted to do something completely new to help our customers really understand their mobile phone usage,” 3 Sweden VP Johan Gertell said. “By partnering with Fjord, we have created a beautiful, innovative way to give our customers access to their data and show our commitment to transparency.”