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What mobile internet services does the BBC have?

A screen shot of the BBC website

You no longer need to be at a computer, radio or TV to enjoy what the BBC has to offer as you can now use your mobile phone to access BBC content. But what content is available, how do you go about accessing it, and how much does it cost?

WebWise Team | 10th October 2012

What services are available?

The BBC has lots of content (eg news, sport, weather, education, entertainment) that you can access from your mobile phone or mobile device.

For example, you could use your mobile to check the weather forecast while you are on the bus, or you could search for recipes while you are at the shops. Go to the BBC mobile webpage ( to find out which BBC services are available.

You will find a smaller version of the BBC homepage which is customised for the mobile phone or device you are using. It may be a little strange at first, but after a while you will feel more familiar with the menus and sections.

On some phones and networks you can even watch and listen to BBC television and radio programmes using the mobile version of iPlayer. Use the iPlayer mobile help page to find out how.

The BBC has also produced a number of "apps" for smartphones, including apps for the iPlayer, and BBC News.

In the future, the BBC will offer more ways of accessing the BBC website from mobile phones and other devices. Look out for more compatibility with new mobile phones and more audio and video.

How do I get it?

If you're able to access the internet on your mobile, simply type the address into your phone's internet browser.

Alternatively, if you're in the UK, you can text BBC to 81010. You’ll get sent a message which will contain a link to the BBC mobile homepage. (Texts cost 12-15p depending on your network and service plan.)

You'll find the message in your text message or service message inbox. Open the link or load the page as appropriate. You'll then be connected to the BBC via the mobile internet.

Don't forget to save a bookmark to the page in your phone. If you aren’t sure how to do that, check your phone's handbook.

How much does it cost?

If you pay your mobile phone operator for surfing the internet using your mobile phone, then you should be able to find out how much it costs to download data.

The BBC doesn't charge you to look at content, so it depends on your network and tariff and what you want to look at. Generally, it costs only a few pence to look at a simple web page, although audio and video will cost considerably more. If you're unsure you can check with your operator.

Video content costs more to view than text because there's much more data to download. If you watch a lot of video on your phone, there are ways to limit your costs to get BBC content as cheaply as possible.

The WebWise 'W'

WebWise Team
