range became the first mobile service provider in the UK to announce that it would provide live television to its customers� handsets. Orange TV, which will run over the company�s 3G network, will offer subscribers with a compatible handset an initial lineup of nine channels. The monthly fee would be �10 above their normal bill. Live television has turned out to be the latest weapon in the armoury of mobile operators in their battle to lure customers to their 3G network. According to reports, take-up has been disappointing till now.

Vodafone is likely to announce a rival service shortly, while O2 is testing a different technology based on digital TV signals. According to telecoms analysts, while TV on mobile phones would be seen as a gimmick initially, it would develop a differentiating service over the next two to three years.... more