3 UK, the greenfield mobile network operator, has gone live with peddling soft porn from Playboy. Other Hutchison 3G territories will follow suit as and when they come on stream, although content - video and stills - will vary, according to local regulation and mores.

Hutchison 3G has licensed exclusive wireless rights in the territories in which it operates for three years to Playboy's print, online and broadcast content. That's up to 13,000 soft porn pictures and 2,000 hours of video for customers of 3 to trawl through.

3 UK has a director of Adult content, and some analysts think that porn will be a killer app for 3G mobile networks. Possibly, but only in private, and only when the lamentable battery life of 3G mobiles is sorted out. ®

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