Fox to Create TV Series for Cell Phones

Worldwide hit television series "24" inspires first-ever dramatic series for viewing on cell phones

Movie studio Twentieth Century Fox is about to release a new series of 1 minute episodes based on its hit show "24" that are designed for viewing on a cell phone. The episodes will be available to customers through Vodafone's UK operation in January, but will also be released in 23 other countries around the world, including the US through Verizon.

This is part of a larger deal between the two companies where Fox will continue making specialised content for cell phones. In March, the new Vodafone service, to be called Vodafone live! with 3G, will also offer trailers and clips of movies under a "Movie of the Month" service, the first one being "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason."

Cell phone operators have invested heavily to roll out high-speed wireless services, intent on driving new revenues from Internet browsing, streaming video and audio, and other forms of media.

Designed to be seen on 3G mobile phones equipped with the world's most advanced video capable technology, "24: Conspiracy" will give "24" fans the unique opportunity to race from their television sets every week to their cell phones to catch the latest "mobisode." All twenty-four installments of "24: Conspiracy" will run sixty seconds with a cliffhanger ending leading directly into the next installment, culminating in a shattering final episode in which all questions will be answered.

Like the TV series, the story concerns the operations of agents working for the Counterterrorist Unit, an arm of the CIA devoted to preventing and responding to attacks on American soil. In the series' first "mobisode," when rogue federal operative Susan Walker murders a high-ranking government official, it's a race against time for agent Martin Kail to bring her to justice.