Mobile TV is immediately available to Vodacom`s 3G Vodafone Live customers, the company says.
The news comes a week after rival MTN announced the start of trials for its 3G Evolved service, which it says is ideal for applications such as mobile and interactive TV, enhanced video telephony, multiplayer gaming and information sharing.
Vodacom announced its high-speed download packet application service in June and will be commercially launching it early next year.
Cell C, the smallest of the three network operators, yesterday announced the signing of its joint venture with Virgin Mobile, which should give it a foothold on the content business.
Content, through the downloading of music, data and video, is seen as a key profit generator for cellular operators worldwide. During the recent GSM Africa conference in Cape Town, a spokesman for 3 Italia, the Italian 3G operator, said the objective was to use cheap voice rates to entice customers to begin to download premium rate content.
In its interim results, Vodacom pointed out that average revenue per user (ARPU) was declining.
For the period ended 30 September, Vodacom`s ARPU decreased on an annual basis of 10.9% to R147. For the six-month period to 30 September, MTN`s ARPU declined to R168 compared to R184 in March this year.
The advent of 3G services could help to increase ARPU from about R200 to R600 per month,
MTN chief operating officer Buckley McGrath says.
"Mobile TV is widely seen as an attractive service for customers," says Pieter Uys, Vodacom`s chief operating officer.
Vodacom sees the provision of a mobile TV service as one catering for lifestyle, rather than strictly business applications, says Uys.
"It is a means to occupy a person`s dead time, or bored time. He or she can watch a TV clip or get live streaming," he says.
The continuous roll-out of Vodacom`s 3G network and increased stability of this network provides Vodacom customers who wish to watch TV on their cellphones with a vastly enhanced communication experience, says Uys.
According to Vodacom, the channels that will be available to Vodafone Live customers includes E Entertainment, Fashion TV, Yebo 1, Speedy, Telly Track, Chilli TV, BBC and Yebo Millionaires.
"Mobi-soaps", the cellphone version of TV soaps, will include Conspiracy 24, Love & Hate, and Sunset Hotel. Additional popular TV channels including Sky News, HBO, Fox and two MTV channels will be made available soon.
Related story:
MTN starts 3G Evolved trials
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