HELSINKI, Finland—In a deal that marks Playboy’s entry into the wireless market, the U.S.-based adult entertainment company, partnered with Finland’s Wireless Entertainment Services Finland (WES). Under the agreement, WES will create Playboy-branded content for wireless devices.
Scheduled for a first-quarter 2002 launch, the deal will enable international network operators to offer a portfolio of Playboy-branded static and animated graphics to their subscribers. The first portfolio will contain more than 50 Playboy-branded images, ranging from the rabbit head design to “animated Hef and Playmate characters.” Every month, WES will add to the Playboy portfolio with new images, including customized Playmate of the Month designs.
The images will be downloadable to wireless devices on a pay-per-download basis, with prices varying by territory and operator.
“Our research shows that we can anticipate approximately 1 million downloads in the first year alone,” said Larry Lux, president of Playboy.com.
In October, Hutchison 3G, which holds a third-generation (3G) license in the United Kingdom, said it is considering offering pornography services over its 3G network. An executive within the company is looking into the issue of offering soft-core adults services.
Hutchison has said it would not generate its own such content, but would seek partnerships with third-party content providers, the reports said.
