In a further development for 3G services, Telstra have completed a deal with Turner Broadcasting to bring rich content to their i-mode subscribers. Later this year, mobile users will be able to watch local and international news on their mobile phones, along with some choice cuts from The Cartoon Network.
In addition to news, the content will cover sports weather and entertainment news from CNN, as well as games and video based on the Cartoon Network’s popular intellectual properties like Tom and Jerry, Powerpuff Girls and Dexter’s Laboratory.
Holly Kramer, Telstra’s managing director for wireless and mobility products said: “In the months ahead we will be announcing some great content deals to provide i-mode subscribers with a premium wireless experience, delivered over a range of innovative, multifunctional handsets.”
3G phone adoption has been very slow since launch – hardly surprising since the first phones have been poor and there has been no content to speak off (comedy sock puppets don’t count as compelling content). With the increasing availability of content that subscribers might actually take an interest in, 3G services might finally take off.