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Mobile Phones

In this day and age, where technological developments are flourishing and disposable income is higher than ever, convergence between new media technologies is practically inevitable. Two of the most popular new technologies, mobile phones and the internet, are now uniting their content as part of what could be described as a technological revolution.

The success of the online pornography market indicates the strength behind the internet as a technology, with the lucrative online pornography industry expected to bring in revenues of approximately US$400 million by 2006. It is this mindset that has resulted in sexual content (not just specifically pornography) undergoing a journey to a new market involving mobile phones. The success of the pornographic industry for the video and computer business is expected to transcend the technological boundaries and provide the same success for wireless devices (Chaffee, 2001: 10).

Mobile Media Systems, an American company who specialises in ‘adult mobile content’ are planning to “broadcast three x-rated channels to internet ready wireless phones offering a ‘slide show’, quality audio and video broadcast� (Hayes, 2004: 1), with this being the first venture to exist in the United States. This service, known as ‘XTC mobile’ will be offered via any phone company in the US and will run on next-generation wireless technology, with the directors behind this scheme insisting the service should not be seen as scandalous, but instead as humorous. Paul Skeldon, a senior analyst with Jupiter Research believes that it is reasonable to presume that “the mobile adult industry will develop and become a very significant mobile genre, and one of the leading services that drives mobile entertainment usage� (Hayes, 2004: 1).

Despite the differences of each technology, it appears that the sensation that comes with the adult entertainment industry is a clear financial winner. There are already 50 or more companies in Europe who offer mobile pornography services, operating with the hope that the worldwide mobile pornography industry could turn over US$1.2 billion a year by 2008 as predicted by Skeldon. Yet regardless of the turnover of such ventures, an important social and moral issue must be dealt with before these projects become more and more involved. Safeguarding children from the effects of wireless pornographic services is an issue mobile phone operators have been struggling with in Britain, with companies unanimously agreeing to age verifications. However, how stringently these verifications are enforced will remain to be seen.

There is no doubt that new technologies and pornography go hand in hand, with the transition of pornography from the internet to mobile phones leading the way of the ever increasing blurred boundaries between what is supposed to remain public and private.

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References

Chaffee, M. (2001) 'That's Wireless Entertainment', Wireless Review [Online], vol. 18, issue 8, pg 10. Available: Proquest: ABI/Inform Global database, ID no: 72201174. [Accessed 20 Oct. 2004].

Hayes, D. (2004) 'Cell Phones Become Another Outlet for Pornography, Knight Ridder Tribune Business News [Online], Available: Proquest: ABI/Inform Global database, ID no: 566596411. [Accessed 17 Oct. 2004].

Latour, A. (2002) 'Wireless Operators Pitch Fancier Services', Wall Street Journal [Online], Available: Proquest: ABI/Inform Global database, ID no: 98001318. [Accessed 17 Oct. 2004].

Jessica Ong 14:59, 27 Oct 2004 (EST)