Mobile porn
Encyclopedia
Mobile porn also known as mobile adult content, mobile erotica or cellphone adult content, is pornography
distributed over mobile telecommunications networks for consumption on mobile devices; mainly mobile phone
s and smartphone
s.
Just like the internet
and pay TV
, the adult entertainment industry was one of the very first forms of mass media to embrace mobile devices as a new means to distribute content; with some of the earliest forays into adult SMS
and the Mobile Web
(WAP) as far back as 2002. Since then, the mobile porn business expects to grow to a market value of $2.3 billion in 2010.
may encourage growth in the mobile porn industry in North America. Since the release of the original iPhone in the summer of 2007 the search term "iPhone Porn" has spiked in popularity. Because 37% of iPhone users watch video on their iPhone and 67% of US iPhone users are male. Other companies in the mobile and video industries are situating themselves to take advantage of this trend. Google
is building a new phone system that the company claims will support any application, presumably including porn, while YouTube
is in negotiations to offer free softcore porn content on 100 million advanced cell phones.
In fact, while so-called "smartphones" comprised only 14% of the mobile devices sold in 2009, according to AdMob, a prominent adult ad-serving network, they generated more than 65% of the total ads served to mobile devices. The vast majority of these devices ran iOS, Apple's iPhone operating system (OS), however other devices are now catching up.
The North American mobile erotica market differs from Europe in that carriers are not allowing adult sites to use their billing mechanisms such as billing via premium SMS
, slowing market growth. There are sites specifically geared towards iPhone customers and do not allow the site to be viewed by non-mobile browsers. Other business models involve offering free videos in the 'tube' style of websites. For the cost of viewing an ad, users can get free video clips. Verizon Wireless
and Sprint Nextel Corporation announced in early 2008 that they plan to allow some adult content to be viewed on their networks, while working to prevent access to this content by children. There have been expectations for some time that these companies will overcome age-verification, political, and religious challenges that have become a barrier to this market, to take advantage of the resulting increase in mobile web-surfing on their networks.
During 2010, many North America
based mobile porn sites formerly optimized for only the iPhone
modified their site design to take advantage of any WebKit
based browser on a mobile device. Phones such as the Palm Pre
or those running on Android are examples of this type. Many third party mobile porn app stores have been released on Android to exploit the growing market. Apple chairman Steve Jobs
has made it clear that no adult content would be sold from Apple's App Store.
Sony
, the company which created the PSP
, say they are unhappy with the spread of PSP porn, but claim to be unable to stop its spread.
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
distributed over mobile telecommunications networks for consumption on mobile devices; mainly mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s and smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s.
Just like the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and pay TV
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
, the adult entertainment industry was one of the very first forms of mass media to embrace mobile devices as a new means to distribute content; with some of the earliest forays into adult SMS
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
and the Mobile Web
Mobile Web
The Mobile Web refers to the use of Internet-connected applications, or browser-based access to the Internet from a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer, connected to a wireless network....
(WAP) as far back as 2002. Since then, the mobile porn business expects to grow to a market value of $2.3 billion in 2010.
North America
Widespread adoption of Apple's iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
may encourage growth in the mobile porn industry in North America. Since the release of the original iPhone in the summer of 2007 the search term "iPhone Porn" has spiked in popularity. Because 37% of iPhone users watch video on their iPhone and 67% of US iPhone users are male. Other companies in the mobile and video industries are situating themselves to take advantage of this trend. Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
is building a new phone system that the company claims will support any application, presumably including porn, while YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
is in negotiations to offer free softcore porn content on 100 million advanced cell phones.
In fact, while so-called "smartphones" comprised only 14% of the mobile devices sold in 2009, according to AdMob, a prominent adult ad-serving network, they generated more than 65% of the total ads served to mobile devices. The vast majority of these devices ran iOS, Apple's iPhone operating system (OS), however other devices are now catching up.
The North American mobile erotica market differs from Europe in that carriers are not allowing adult sites to use their billing mechanisms such as billing via premium SMS
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
, slowing market growth. There are sites specifically geared towards iPhone customers and do not allow the site to be viewed by non-mobile browsers. Other business models involve offering free videos in the 'tube' style of websites. For the cost of viewing an ad, users can get free video clips. Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
and Sprint Nextel Corporation announced in early 2008 that they plan to allow some adult content to be viewed on their networks, while working to prevent access to this content by children. There have been expectations for some time that these companies will overcome age-verification, political, and religious challenges that have become a barrier to this market, to take advantage of the resulting increase in mobile web-surfing on their networks.
During 2010, many North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
based mobile porn sites formerly optimized for only the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
modified their site design to take advantage of any WebKit
WebKit
WebKit is a layout engine designed to allow web browsers to render web pages. WebKit powers Google Chrome and Apple Safari and by October 2011 held over 33% of the browser market share between them. It is also used as the basis for the experimental browser included with the Amazon Kindle ebook...
based browser on a mobile device. Phones such as the Palm Pre
Palm Pre
The Palm Pre is a multimedia smartphone designed and marketed by Palm with a multi-touch screen and a sliding keyboard. The smartphone was the first to use Palm's Linux based mobile operating system, webOS...
or those running on Android are examples of this type. Many third party mobile porn app stores have been released on Android to exploit the growing market. Apple chairman Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
has made it clear that no adult content would be sold from Apple's App Store.
Criticisms
There has been some criticism regarding mobile porn, with children possibly being exposed to the inappropriate and unregulated content. Network operators have implemented age verification systems though, which demand customers who want to buy porn through their phone to be a verified adult first.Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, the company which created the PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
, say they are unhappy with the spread of PSP porn, but claim to be unable to stop its spread.
External links
- "CTIA-The Wireless Organization Content Guidelines"
- "Mobile porn is a $1 bln industry in 2005", ZDNetZDNetZDNet is a business technology news website published by CBS Interactive, along with TechRepublic and SmartPlanet. The brand was founded on April 1, 1991 as a general interest technology portal from Ziff Davis and evolved into an enterprise IT-focused online publication owned by CNET...
, December 13, 2005 - "Strategy Analytics ups mobile porn forecast to $5 bln by 2010" ZDNetZDNetZDNet is a business technology news website published by CBS Interactive, along with TechRepublic and SmartPlanet. The brand was founded on April 1, 1991 as a general interest technology portal from Ziff Davis and evolved into an enterprise IT-focused online publication owned by CNET...
, March 17, 2005