The Register reports: Finland has become the first European country to issue a licence for a commercial TV service for mobile phones, the Finnish News Agency reports.

The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications announced on Monday that it will start accepting applications for a licence. The service will be based on DVB-H (digital video broadcasting - handheld) transmission technology. Finland is one of many countries experimenting with TV on mobile phones. In Helsinki around 500 people were involved in a pilot*) in the Helsinki metropolitan area last spring, which was favourably received.

*) According to the pilot results, pilot participants not only wanted to watch familiar program offerings, but they would also welcome mobile TV content that is suitable for short and occasional viewing. Familiar programs available through national Finnish television channels proved to be the most popular followed by sports and news channels (CNN, BBC World, Euronews).