bitchgirl
University Life
http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,17253509-462,00.html
THE small screen is heating up with a new wave of racy images and film clips making their way to mobile phones and the new video iPods, raising new questions for telecom companies and regulators.
Films, television shows and images are all making their way to the small screen, and analysts say that undoubtedly opens the door to pornography or other adult-oriented content.
Within days of the launch of Apple's new video iPod, companies were rushing to deliver content ranging from mild to shocking.
"We think the growth of viewing adult content on iPod devices will be explosive in the coming months," said Harvey Kaplan of Xobile.com, which describes itself as "the leading provider of adult movies for mobile phones."
Kaplan said that the mobile phone market remains far larger than that of "portables," which include video iPods, Sony PlayStations and Windows-based portable video devices. But he said both segments are surging.
"We actively sign up about 20,000 new subscribers every month," Kaplan said, adding that three-fourths are from outside the United States.
"We can deliver to any mobile phone anywhere in the world."
In the United States, he said the market has been limited by mobile phone companies that are reluctant to become partners with the porn industry for fear of being stigmatised and by community standards more staid that other parts of the world.
"In the US it's very slow, even for bikini-clad content," Kaplan said, adding that one mobile phone company that offered such an option "raised community outrage."
"Nobody wants to be the first company to allow adult content," he said.
Still, many companies are positioning for a growing market.
Playboy struck deal this year for "iBod" photo galleries for the iPod photo device - which preceded the video iPod - and has a deal with Dwango Wireless to offer adult content for mobile phones.
Kaplan said a new rating system adopted this month by the cellular industry - which could allow parents to block sex-oriented content - would be a boon to the adult entertainment industry.
The Wireless Association announced guidelines for "generally accessible" and "restricted" content using criteria based on the movie, television, music and games rating systems.
This allows carriers to requires parent or guardian permission to access any material inappropriate for subscribers under 18.
The move to create content categories that could allow filters "is fabulous for a company like ours," Kaplan said.
"The chief thing we get accused of is going after children. The bottom line is that kids are the worst customers possible. They don't have credit cards or their cards are stolen. We don't want them to see the content."
The research firm Research and Markets estimated a year ago that the "wireless adult content market" would be worth US$90 million in the United States and one billion dollars globally by 2008.
Yankee Group earlier this year estimated the US market for adult content at $192 million by 2009, but said growth would depend on whether wireless carriers take action to protect minors to avert government regulation.
But Jeff Kagan, an independent telecom analyst, said he sees the market moving slowly for erotic programming on mobile phones, even as the carriers start offering other types of films, music and television shows.
"The US carriers have all shied away form anything that would cause trouble or hurt their image," Mr Kagan said.
"They have basically said they are staying out of the porn business. They have no control of what their clients do, but when they hear about it they try to shut it down."
Mr Kagan said the companies "would like access to a whole new revenue stream but it opens up a whole number of issues ... it's a touchy subject."
But Mr Kagan said the issue is different for iPods and similar devices. Since they don't use regulated public networks, there are fewer impediments to customers downloading whatever they choose.
"It's the same effect but there are different rules," Mr Kagan said. "But that's the problem with technology."
THE small screen is heating up with a new wave of racy images and film clips making their way to mobile phones and the new video iPods, raising new questions for telecom companies and regulators.
Films, television shows and images are all making their way to the small screen, and analysts say that undoubtedly opens the door to pornography or other adult-oriented content.
Within days of the launch of Apple's new video iPod, companies were rushing to deliver content ranging from mild to shocking.
"We think the growth of viewing adult content on iPod devices will be explosive in the coming months," said Harvey Kaplan of Xobile.com, which describes itself as "the leading provider of adult movies for mobile phones."
Kaplan said that the mobile phone market remains far larger than that of "portables," which include video iPods, Sony PlayStations and Windows-based portable video devices. But he said both segments are surging.
"We actively sign up about 20,000 new subscribers every month," Kaplan said, adding that three-fourths are from outside the United States.
"We can deliver to any mobile phone anywhere in the world."
In the United States, he said the market has been limited by mobile phone companies that are reluctant to become partners with the porn industry for fear of being stigmatised and by community standards more staid that other parts of the world.
"In the US it's very slow, even for bikini-clad content," Kaplan said, adding that one mobile phone company that offered such an option "raised community outrage."
"Nobody wants to be the first company to allow adult content," he said.
Still, many companies are positioning for a growing market.
Playboy struck deal this year for "iBod" photo galleries for the iPod photo device - which preceded the video iPod - and has a deal with Dwango Wireless to offer adult content for mobile phones.
Kaplan said a new rating system adopted this month by the cellular industry - which could allow parents to block sex-oriented content - would be a boon to the adult entertainment industry.
The Wireless Association announced guidelines for "generally accessible" and "restricted" content using criteria based on the movie, television, music and games rating systems.
This allows carriers to requires parent or guardian permission to access any material inappropriate for subscribers under 18.
The move to create content categories that could allow filters "is fabulous for a company like ours," Kaplan said.
"The chief thing we get accused of is going after children. The bottom line is that kids are the worst customers possible. They don't have credit cards or their cards are stolen. We don't want them to see the content."
The research firm Research and Markets estimated a year ago that the "wireless adult content market" would be worth US$90 million in the United States and one billion dollars globally by 2008.
Yankee Group earlier this year estimated the US market for adult content at $192 million by 2009, but said growth would depend on whether wireless carriers take action to protect minors to avert government regulation.
But Jeff Kagan, an independent telecom analyst, said he sees the market moving slowly for erotic programming on mobile phones, even as the carriers start offering other types of films, music and television shows.
"The US carriers have all shied away form anything that would cause trouble or hurt their image," Mr Kagan said.
"They have basically said they are staying out of the porn business. They have no control of what their clients do, but when they hear about it they try to shut it down."
Mr Kagan said the companies "would like access to a whole new revenue stream but it opens up a whole number of issues ... it's a touchy subject."
But Mr Kagan said the issue is different for iPods and similar devices. Since they don't use regulated public networks, there are fewer impediments to customers downloading whatever they choose.
"It's the same effect but there are different rules," Mr Kagan said. "But that's the problem with technology."
Graphing calculators, anyone?
