-- Orange UK Launches Ad-Funded Music Trial: Mobile operator Orange is launching a three-month long ad-sponsored content trial on its mobile internet platform Orange World. The trial will be offered to 800,000 Orange customers, who will be given the option of music to their handsets for free, or at a discounted rate. Brands—including Paramount Pictures and Ford, which have signed on to the trial—will have their banner ads prominently displayed at the time customers are downloading the music. Mobile advertising firm ScreenTonic is managing the ads for the trial (release).

-- Orange UK Gets Icewhole.com Films: Orange has struck a deal with Icewhole.com, a web site that showcases the work of budding filmmakers and actors to provide the operator with short films for its subscribers. Each month, the best short films will be chosen from Icewhole.com’s online catalogue and will be offered up to Orange customers. The films cost £1 ($2) a download, with royalties going back to the filmmakers (release).

-- Helio Gets Opera Mini: Browser maker Opera and MVNO Helio have struck a deal to offer a specially-tailored version of Norwegian firm’s mobile browser Opera Mini on Helio’s Ocean handset. The deal is the first one in which an American provider has offered Opera Mini to its subscribers. The popular browser will be available to subscribers as a dowloadable application on Helio’s portal (release).