US telcos, hamstrung by their insistence to be in the middle of any interaction with their customer combined with nervousness over offending people by offering adult content, are attempting to solve the problem by using their trade association, Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Assn (CTIA) to create a classification system for mobile content. Apparently it’s the recent interest by pornographic publishing houses and porn stars like Ron Jeremy in offering mobile services that has kickstarted the initiative. Also of concern is the recent trend of full-music ringtones, considering the fact that the majority of ringtones sold are of hip-hop and rap artists, who tend to use language which can only be described as vulgar.
“It’s as much about freeing up content that adult customers want to enjoy as it is about restricting children from accessing it,” says Jim Ryan, VP of data product management for Cingular Wireless. “Until we can provide filtering and control for parents, we will offer only the broadcast version of content. When we can provide an 18-plus category, we’ll look at the ability to offer other things. Our job is not to restrict or to regulate access to content. Our job is to provide choice and provide control.”
Related news:
–UK unfurls ratings system for adult content on mobiles
–Stringfellows Arouses Interest Of Virgin Mobile
–Mobile Porn Forecast Raised, Still Not Killer App
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