Research and Markets comments on wireless adult content market regulation

Technology Research firm Research and Markets is publishing a new report entitled "Child Protection Unlocks Wireless Adult Content Opportunity", examining the wireless adult content market. One of the examples quoted is phoneerotica.com, an adult WAP site, which has generated more wireless traffic than MSN on at least one major U.S. carrier. According to this report the traffic has caught the attention of the mobile operators, raising their fears of regulation along with their interest in profiting from adult content services.

Research and Markets says that the wireless adult content market will be worth approximately US$90 million in the United States and US$1 billion globally in 2008. It also says that most carriers are paralyzed by the threat/opportunity and are ignoring it completely. Some conservative U.S. and Japanese carriers refuse to allow their billing systems to be used for any adult content services, regardless of a customer’s age. European carriers have allowed their premium SMS systems to enable adult content. These operators are now attempting to self-regulate by blocking underage use.

In the United States, where there is no filtering of WAP sites, anyone can browse wireless adult content sites. The site is free, so traffic is high. Most U.S. carriers will enable their billing systems to be used by adult content providers, but only after they discover an acceptable mechanism for blocking inappropriate viewing of content.