Teimlo® is a Mobile Services Provider to affinity groups. According to its website: "We take away the pain of entry into the mobile world by providing a full service solution. This allows organizations within the affinity groups with which we work to begin providing mobile services quickly, easily and without having to go through a steep learning curve on technology. If you are within one of our affinity areas we can have you up and running within days."

What kind of mobile services do they provide?

"Services usually fall into two categories, messaging services and content services. We provide both, so if you want to text your community, run competitions, set triggers, provide information services, or sell pictures, games, ringtones or video clips we can help."

They even provide content from Stoke-on-Trent based United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) at www.ucbmobile.co.uk/web/home/

Teimlo's promotional message for the download service is simple: "The only Bible you can read in the dark."

Erik Fok, head of sales and marketing, said he believed young people would appreciate the service. "The market for Christian content on mobile phones hasn't been well-served," he said.

"There are young Christians out there who want this kind of thing for their phones," Fok said, adding; "Christian organizations and churches have been on the back foot in terms of communication, and in terms of getting hold of the current technology and ways of communicating. This provides a tremendous opportunity for them."

Popular wallpapers available through the www.Ecumen.com website include pictures of angels, Noah's Ark, Jesus walking on water and religious messages and symbols.

Ring tones range from the traditional Amazing Grace and Bread of Heaven to modern songs by rock group Delirious, to the distinctly unholy sounds of "burps and laughs" and "pig squeal."

Non-violent family-friendly games are also available to download and the Bible can be downloaded, marketed with the phrase: "The only Bible you can read in the dark."

Pastor Robbie Howells, of Newport City Church, south Wales, said: "Our mission is to get the good news out there through every medium we can. Some young Christians may not want to use their Bible in school, but now they can have it on their phone and easily read the scriptures to help get them through the day."

He added:"Mobile phones are such a great way of telling people about the gospel, and as a pastor it gives me a new way of communicating with members of the church, especially young people. It's getting the message across in a fun, funky way."

Howells said he was glad people could now access the Bible easily without carrying the book with them. "It's one of the things I'm most excited about, encouraging people to use the Bible on a daily basis rather than once a week."

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. His weblog appears at: Michael's Wor(l)d BLOG