Telus quietly discontinues adult content offering

Think adult content is a safe play for wireless carriers? Try asking Canadian operator Telus Corp.
Telus quietly dropped its racy offerings this week-less than two months after raising eyebrows by becoming the first Canadian carrier to wade into the adult content waters-after customers objected to the service. The operator reportedly had registered and age-verified several thousands customers willing to pay $3 to download nude images or $4 for video files of full or partial nudity; hardcore pornography was not offered through the service.
Telus was forced to discontinue the steamy stuff after receiving several hundred complaints, however. Vancouver’s Catholic archdiocese last week told 130 parishes and schools to cancel their Telus contracts, and the company said some corporate customers also questioned the content.
The carrier plans no formal announcement of the decision, but a company spokesman confirmed the move.
The move seems to validate the fears of U.S. carriers, which have effectively distanced themselves from all but the most innocuous content. While R-rated mobile content and even hardcore porn have thrived in Europe and some emerging markets, North American operators have largely refused to allow adult content providers to bill through monthly statements. The move has shackled the market, vendors say, by forcing consumers looking for naughty material to reach for their credit cards.