Football League playoffs and Test cricket beamed live to handsets this summer

Football and cricket fans on the Vodafone network will be able to get their fix wherever they are this weekend, as the first full live matches are shown on the Vodafone Live service.

The service for 3G mobile phones is a partnership between Sky Sports and Vodafone UK and will kick off with the semi-finals of the Football League playoffs on Saturday.

This is the first time that live football matches will be shown simultaneously on mobile and TV in the UK.

"This collaboration with Vodafone gives fans the flexibility and convenience of watching two major series - a summer of international cricket and the intrigue and excitement of the Football League playoffs - even when they cannot get to a TV screen," said Stephen Nuttall, director of business development at Sky.

Around 100 hours of coverage is scheduled in the first month as part of the Sky Mobile TV service, including 15 live football matches and three live Test matches.

Live cricket will continue throughout the summer until the final Test against Pakistan in September.

The coverage will be available free for 3G users who subscribe to Sky Mobile TV's news, sports and factual pack at a cost of £5 per month for each pack.