If you’re worried about missing your favourite soap episode whilst travelling, fear not, as the BBC has launched a new service that will bring live TV to your mobile, which increases the likelihood of people wanting to do a bit of mobile recycling and get the latest model. Who’s going to want to be stuck with their old handset which just sends texts and makes calls, when brand new examples can get the latest episodes of East Enders?

The real breakthrough with the BBC service is that live TV can be watched on the mobile at the same time as it is broadcast live on TV. Although initially limited in nature, the news service, called Live TV, will allow mobile users to watch BBC1, BBC4, BBC News and CBeebies, using a compatible mobile phone with a Wi-Fi connection.

The live programmes will have been optimised for small screen performance, but don’t expect a full line-up straight away, as certain shows, such as sports events, will not have the correct rights to be broadcast.  The slight sting in the tail is that users will have to have a colour TV licence, although whether that is covered if someone already has a licence for their house, remains to be seem.

The BBC is particularly proud of it’s service’s ‘click-and-go’ credentials, meaning that no special software, or adapters are needed to view the programmes.  And although the BBC plan to extend the service, both in terms of content and its ability to work via the 3G Network, many industry observers say that it’s current reliance on Wi-Fi technology makes it only a toe in the water as regards a radical new offering.

Only a few mobiles can easily access the service at the moment and these include the G1 from T-Mobile and the Nokia N Series phones. Forget it if you’ve got an iPhone, or iPod Touch.  But watch this space say BBC, who hope to broaden the services catchment over the coming months.