Streaming video hits the 3G spot

Mobile networks are already striking deals with pornography companies for video content on third generation phones.

New entrant Hutchison 3G is preparing erotic video content that will feature men and women and go beyond mainstream definitions of softcore pornography, silicon.com can exclusively reveal.

Pornography is the largest business on the fixed internet by a long way, representing as much as 70 per cent of all ecommerce revenues by some estimates, though the precise quantity is difficult to measure.

The five winners of the 3G auctions spent billions of pounds on their licences, and they will have to offer a lot of very compelling services if they are to earn that money back. Pornography is an obvious way to earn revenues fast.

Any company that does so, however, risks a PR backlash - and they will have to make sure that the phones cannot be used by under-18s to access adult material.

A Hutchison spokesman said: "We are not commenting on any of our products and services as they will not be launched until summer 2002."

He also insisted that Hutchison 3G has not signed any deals with pornographic content providers.

Hutchison 3G last week announced a three-year deal with the Football Association to stream video Premiership Football highlights over mobile phones.

The company also has a team of people working to develop content prior to the launch.

Adult content has been available on WAP mobile internet sites since last year. Users can browse low quality monochrome images, which have proved extremely popular despite their poor resolution.

The first ever WAP sex site, launched in Holland in February 2000, was an instant success, garnering tens of thousands of hits in its first months with no advertising.