After years of double-digit growth rates, the global ringtone market appears to have come to the end of its crescendo, according to a variety of measures. In some parts of the world, ringtone sales are actually declining, and the former ringtone kings, such as Jamba of Germany and Musiwave of France, are refocusing their businesses on other ways to personalize cell phones.

A couple of years ago, there seemed to be no upper limit to the sale — for a couple of euros, or $3 to $4 — of snippets of music that blast out of cell phones. Billboard magazine created a “hot ringtones” chart in 2004 to track their popularity, and at one point in 2005 analysts predicted an $11 billion ringtone business by 2010.But the market changed in unexpected ways. For one, more mobile phones were being made with the ability to create or record their own tunes. For another, record labels promoted so-called master ringtones — excerpts from the original pop recordings — for about the same price as the knockoffs but with higher royalty fees.

And digital music stores such as iTunes began packaging and selling ringtones alongside their 99-cent singles. All three trends lessened the profitability of ringtone aggregators, such as Jamba, the Berlin-based marketer behind the popular “Crazy Frog” melody. Jamba, known as Jamster in the United States, is still selling ringtones, but it has expanded into music, video and information services as well as graphics and games. The company was bought for $273 million in 2004 by VeriSign, which subsequently sold a controlling stake to the News Corp.

Samsung has launched its first ultra durable handset, the Samsung Solid, which is exclusive to O2.The Samsung Solid is water and dust resistant and has an inbuilt anti-shock mechanism. It also comes with a thick rubber body that will help protect against damage if the phone is dropped. The handset is aimed at tradesmen and extreme sports enthusiast and also features a VGA camera, Bluetooth and WAP connectivity, FM radio and flashlight. The Solid also boasts an SOS dialing function which sends an alert message to a chosen contact if the volume button is pressed three times in quick succession.

Once the message has been sent, the next incoming call is automatically answered. Samsung announcement comes just weeks after Data Select unveiled the Toughphone, which was designed by construction equipment manufacturer JCB, in November. The Toughphone is also shock, dust, water and drop resistant, and will work in temperatures from -20C to 60C.The Toughphone is free with a 12-month contract on Vodafone but costs £199.95 on pre-pay. The Samsung Solid is also available for free with a 12-month O2 contract cost only £59.99 on O2 Pay As You Go.

T-Mobile on Tuesday began offering the Nokia 6263, a classic clamshell cell phone with enhancements, such as e-mail capability and a XHTML browser. The Nokia 6263 is not a costly multimedia device like the ones by Nokia as part of its Nseries, but it does fulfill most basic functions required by mobile users. For example, the phone is capable of receiving e-mail with attachments and it can be used for Internet browsing via a built-in XHTML browser.

It also supports Java and Flash Lite, and can be synched to a desktop through Nokia’s PC Suite software, available as a free download. “Many customers are looking to own a device that offers the latest conveniences, and want all of those features in a stylish — but classically-styled — phone. The Nokia 6263 is designed expressly for those people,” said Frank Vium, Nokia’s vice president of sales, in a statement. While T-Mobile is still in the process of building out its third-generation cellular network, known as HSDPA, the Nokia 6263 is capable of supporting it. It also uses quad-band GSM/EDGE on the carrier’s existing network, which is much slower than HSDPA.

Additional features include a 1.3-megapixel camera with video recorder, music player, FM radio, and stereo Bluetooth. The Nokia 6263 can store up to 350 songs on a 512 MB memory card that’s included with the phone. That could be expanded to 3,000 songs with an optional 4 GB card. The phone offers about 3 hours of talk time or over 11 days of standby time. The phone is available immediately online and at select T-Mobile retail stores, according to the companies, but pricing isn’t yet available. Similar mid-range models, such as the Nokia 6103 and Nokia 6133, are being offered by T-Mobile for under $150 (some less with special offers).

For video-gaming enthusiasts who don’t wish to shell out hundreds of pounds for the latest console, there may be an alternative in the form of an upcoming $20 (14) device for playing classic Atari 2600 games. The “Atari 10-in-1 TV Games” device is a basic joypad with 10 built-in 8-bit Atari games and a standard ATV output cable allowing it to connect to any standard television. The device will join a similar product, launched last year, that plays Activision games.

The device includes classics such as Centipede, Asteroids, Missile Command, Battlezone, Adventure, Combat and four others, according to Jakks Pacific, which is making the device under license from Infogrames Interactive, owner of the Atari intellectual property. It will retail under the brand of Jakks’ Toymax International subsidiary. British mobile phone developer IFone said last year it would work to put classic Atari games into mobile phones, and this year has announced deals with Ericsson and Vodafone to deliver games.

Sega Mobile, a division of Sega.com, Inc. dedicated to bringing Sega content to the mobile market in North America, has formed a strategic alliance with Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS), which operates the largest all-digital, nationwide network and is the fastest growing wireless carrier. Sega will leverage its popular franchises and extensive gaming legacy to deliver the best in mobile gaming content for the highly anticipated Sprint Third Generation Network launching nationwide this summer. Sega Mobile will bring one of the first full-color mobile games to Sprint wireless customers with the launch of the hit title Monkey Ball. Sega’s simian superstars are rolling straight onto your cell phone in SEGA Monkey Ball from Sega Mobile.

The basic idea is simple enough: just guide your spherically-encased monkey to the goal line while collecting bananas along the way. Ah, but gravity is a harsh mistress, and if you tilt too far, you’ll send your monkey to the great void below. The same precarious action you expect from Monkey Ball is here in glistening 2D, along with some all-new features, including different terrains, wind, and black bananas that will redefine the term “shock the monkey.” So follow the bouncing, crashing, and plummeting ball, and start monkeying around with your wireless phone, Sega-style.

• The Nintendo GameCube hit comes straight ballin’ to cell phones.
• 15 levels filled with different gameplay elements.
• New obstacles including wind, various terrains, and yucky black bananas.
• Auto-save feature lets you suspend play at any time.
• Painstakingly rendered monkeys — you’d think you were watching
• PBS! Made for Sprint vision-enabled phones.

“The Sprint Third Generation Network enables the transformation of mobile games from the text-based experience of today to a graphic, full-color experience of console-brand games available through Sprint on its 3G-enabled PCS phones,” said Chip Novick, vice president of consumer marketing for Sprint’s PCS division. “When Sprint launches recognizable games like Monkey Ball from a top provider like Sega on its 3G Network this summer, you will inevitably see more and more Sprint customers moving their phones from their ears to their eyes as they get a little game action on the go.”  

The Nokia 3650 is the first phone with an integrated camera to be delivered to the North America. This phone will generate a lot of excitement among consumers,” said Juha Putkiranta, Senior Vice President, Imaging Business Unit, Nokia Mobile Phones.To instantly “share a moment”, the Nokia 3650 phone includes an integrated VGThe Nokia 3650 is optimized for an easy and enjoyable imaging experience.

Nokia has unveiled a new product, the Nokia 3650 to its imaging phone category. “Nokia is pleased to add another imaging phone with the Series 60 platform to its wide range of products. Through its visual and dynamic features the Nokia 3650 expands the superior imaging experience and MMS into the global market. A camera, a large 176×208 pixel color display with 4096 colors, and a unique circular keypad with a 5-way scroll key.

The Nokia 3650 also incorporates a camcorder for capturing video clips, as well as a RealOne Player for downloading and playing or real-time streaming of video content. The MMS functionality allows users to send video clips, images, text and sound to another compatible MMS-enabled phone or to an e-mail address. The Nokia 3650 phone has extensive e-mail support and an XHTML browser that enables next generation browsing.

The Series 60 platform on top of the Symbian OS (Operating System) offers a powerful, easy-to-use platform for the Nokia 3650 phone.Java(TM) technology allows users to personalize the content on their phone with a wide selection of third-party applications, including image editing and a variety of graphic-intense games. Developers looking to reach the Nokia 3650 phone audience can use the Series 60 Software Development Kit to build applications and Nokia Trade point as also Nokia Software Market to take their applications to market. More details, including free downloads of the Series 60 SDK, are available.

Nokia Game, an interactive adventure provided by Nokia, will be played from 11 to 29 November in nine languages across all 25 countries simultaneously. During the game, players receive a mission that they must complete within the next 20 days. Those players who complete the mission to the fullest (i.e. score the most points) will win. Compared to previous versions of Nokia Game, this year offers both active and casual players the opportunity to play at their own level. Due to a new game concept, players can enjoy the experience 24 hours a day, if they want to, and upload and share their own created content to amaze and impress fellow players.

In addition, players are challenged to create a new game identity and investigate - using their game identity - the borders between fiction and reality. Close cooperation with the world’s largest music publishing companies has resulted in a game theme that will teach participants the ins and outs of today’s music business.Nokia Game uses the Internet, SMS, chat, interactive voice response (IVR) calls and mini-movies distributed over the web to share information and provide clues and instructions to the players. There is no participation fee to participate in Nokia Game. To play, participants need to have access to the Internet, an e-mail address, and a mobile phone with the capacity to receive short messages.

There is no age limit to play the game, but minors need their guardian’s permission to participate.At the end of the game, the top 10-100 players in each country will each win a special new Nokia 3650 phone with integrated camera, video player and camcorder. The winners will be among the first in their region to own and use this new phone.

Finnish handset manufacturer Nokia will continue its push into the services space with the launch of its UK-based Nokia Music Store on Thursday.The company will make millions of tracks from major artists and independent labels available alongside interactive features such as personal track recommendations and a favourite artists search and discovery function.

Users will be able to access the Nokia Music Store via their desktop computer or directly from Nokia devices beginning with the Nokia N81 and Nokia N95 8GB, both of which launch alongside the music shop.Individual tracks will cost 80p per track and albums start at £8.00. The store will also offer a monthly subscription for PC streaming for £8.00.The move is in direct competition with Apple’s iTunes store and precedes the launch of the European iPhone by days.

But music software firm Omnifone is keen to crash Nokia’s party and is also having a launch bash in London on Thursday for its MusicStation platform. MusicStation has already been picked by Vodafone to offer unlimited track downloads, straight to the mobile, for £1.99 per week. But we’re also promised that there will be more: “It will also have a very aggressive pricing model, which has yet to be announced and will be very threatening to O2 and iPhone,” the company said.

Sony Ericsson announced an exclusive colour range with Vodafone that combines both companies’ expertise in mobile music with a unique new style, labelled the Havana collection and finished in a stand-out Havana colour.The chic family of mobile phones and accessories unveiled today by Sony Ericsson and Vodafone sets out to combine music with fashion. The new collection comprises exclusive colour variants of the popular W880i and W910i Walkman® phones, plus a colour-matched music accessory, the Portable Speakers MPS-70. The final addition to the collection is the Sony Ericsson V640i, a music-enabled phone available exclusively to Vodafone customers in selected markets*.

W880i Walkman® phone in Havana colour
The Sony Ericsson W880i Walkman® phone has become a style ‘must-have’ since its launch in early 2007. As Sony Ericsson’s slimmest phone to date at just 9.4mm thin, the W880i fits neatly into a handbag or pocket; not that you will want to keep it there with the stunning new Havana colour. Still able to store up to 900 full-length tracks on the 1GB Memory Stick Micro™ - that’s around 75 albums – this exclusive colour refresh adds further desirability to an already feature-packed phone.

W910i Walkman® phone in Havana Bronze
The new W910i is a 3G broadband (HSDPA) Walkman phone that is designed for entertainment; whether music, 3D games, video, or high-speed Web access. It is geared to let you choose your music, your way. Select Shake control and just flick the phone to control games or skip and shuffle between tracks. Or opt for SensMe™ and discover music to match your mood and tempo. The W910i is the ideal mobile music companion, and with the addition of the exclusive Havana treatment it is ideal for Vodafone customers who are looking for a great Walkman® phone with added style.

Sony Ericsson V640i in Havana Gold
The Havana collection is further extended by the launch of the Sony Ericsson V640i, exclusively available to Vodafone customers. The V640i is a music-enabled phone that offers high-speed 3G broadband (HSDPA) performance. As with the W910i Walkman® phone, the V640i offers Media Manager software***, making it straightforward to transfer music, photos, videos and more from PC to phone and vice versa All of the phones in the Havana collection let you download music directly from Vodafone’s Music Store, either via 3G or high speed 3G broadband (HSDPA). With the V640i it takes around 14 seconds to download a full-length music track**.

The three mobile phones also feature Sony Ericsson’s exclusive TrackID™ music recognition software, which lets you identify a music track played from an external music source and receive a notification back within seconds of the artist name, song title and album. Once you have identified it, you can then download the full-track from Vodafone’s Music Store.

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has upgraded 3’s network with enhanced mobile broadband services with downlink speeds up to 7.2Mbps and uplink speeds of 1.4Mbps. The “turbocharged” network is live in major Swedish cities from today.The upgrade gives 3’s customers even faster access to mobile broadband services including internet surfing, video, TV, music and faster uploading of data.

Users will see little or no difference between using a fixed connection at home or via HSPA from anywhere else.Peder Ramel, CEO of 3 Scandinavia says: “We are proud to be one of the first operators in the world to upgrade Turbo 3G service to even higher speeds. The Ericsson technology allows us to take mobile broadband to the next level.Mikael Bäckström, President of Ericsson Nordic and Baltics, says: “With this upgrade, 3 is the one of the first operators to offer consumer and enterprise customers richer services at unparalleled speeds.

We are proud to be supplier to 3’s successful Turbo 3G service.Under this agreement Ericsson will provide hardware, software and services related to HSPA 7.2 and Enhanced Uplink. 3 and Ericsson will continue to extend network coverage and upgrade to higher HSPA speeds throughout 2007.