e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[emit]

Virgin Launches Adult Services

1/22/2002




(BWCS) Virgin Mobile has announced plans to introduce a range of adult content services including SMS flirting, mobile gambling and in the future even mobile erotica. The first adult offering to be launched will be a so-called Flirt Alert service that matches people of a similar profile and allows them to send blind SMS text messages to each other. The service will be offered through Virgin’s enhanced services division Virgin Xtras.


In response to concerns that Flirt Alet could raise privacy issues Virgin claims that the service, which will go live on Valentines Day, will protect user privacy by allowing subscribers to block unwanted messages.


Virgin follows other UK operators such as UMTS licensee Hutchison 3G and the BT mobile portal Genie in developing content specifically for an adult audience. All three are hoping that this category of habit-forming and, in some cases, premium content services will boost usage and average revenues per user on their networks.


Virgin is the UK’s fifth largest mobile network and by 31 December had 1.45 million customers up by 32% on the end 2000 total. (BWCS)