The site samsungmobile.com is the manufacturers response to ClubNokia and is live across the UK Germany France Italy and Spain.

It offers downloadable ringtones content graphics and Java games. Non-Samsung owners can become members and receive free SMS messages and e-cards as well as product information on the Samsung phone range and its online games.

Loyalty points can be earned and swapped for ringtones games colour images and software. Owners of Samsung handsets automatically receive 300 points.

It is about helping customers understand their handsets better said Samsung content manager Imogen ORourke.

ORourke is looking to have 50000 UK members by the end of the year and 250000 across Europe.

This range of seasonal fascias from Lazer XS incorporates a flashing LED in the design which lights up when there is an incoming call or text message. Festive.

Aimed at helping networks spice up their SIM card designs the Clear Card is like a normal credit card-sized SIM but with a protective film overlay.

The cards are available in several colours enabling a wide variety of images and see-through effects to be used.

Digital Bridges started out with simpler games such as hangman and anagram and has since added branded titles.

Well he did when he went to the Carphone Warehouse ball on October 12 along with thousands of other revellers in various stages of Schooldays fancy dress under the strict tutelage of headmaster Dunstone (see inset).

Nokias network operator customers will then be able to brand the services individually.

MMS is already taking the industry by storm said Esa Harju director of strategic marketing for Nokia Networks. Weve already seen strong growth in markets like Italy where in the first two weeks of service more than 180000 MMS messages were sent. We want to see this happen in all markets and with all our customers; this agreement with IMG is just one example of the initiatives we are taking.

Mark Selby head of IMGs mobile division commented: With MMS we see a major opportunity to create rich media services that deliver the emotion of sport. This global project with Nokia provides an ideal opportunity to explore the potential of rich media services with mobile operators.

He added that IMGs analysis of mobile user behaviour patterns indicated that MMS offers a major opportunity for new rich media.

Nokia says the Essential Sports project will enable Nokia and IMG to gather experience in the successful delivery of multi-media content to sports fans.

IMG was founded by Mark McCormack in the early 1960s. The company claims to be the worlds premier sports management and marketing agency with an international staff of more than 2500 across 32 countries. Its television division produces and distributes 6000 hours of programming a year.

In the six months to the end of June there were 415000 new connections.

The proportion of contract customers rose from 28.6 per cent to 31 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Rolling blended ARPU (ie the mix of pre-pay and contract users) increased for a second consecutive quarter. This time it was up from 247 to 252. Annual average revenue from contract users went from 548 in March to 555 in June. The pre-pay average increased from 121 to 122 over the same period.

Text messages and other data services contributed 13.9 per cent of GSM network revenues a growth of 4.3 per cent over the past year.

Over half of our network investment is integrating 2.5G and 3G capabilities. We are on track for our planned 3G launches said Orange chief operating officer Graham Howe.

This year Openwave expects to ship more than 100 million copies of its browser software.

Openwave works with more than 40 handset manufacturer clients and claims it has around 60 per cent market share of all mobile browsers shipped worldwide with 25 per cent market share in Japan 54 per cent in Europe and a massive 97 per cent in the US. Last month Openwave launched its WAP 2.0 browser which will ship on more than 45 handsets.

The coming of WAP 2 technology from Japan to the Americas and to Europe means that developers can create more mobile applications and content that consumers and enterprises want to use said an Openwave Systems spokesman.

Better graphics make it easier for developers to adapt PC-based interfaces to mobile devices and makes Web applications more intuitive to subscribers. Openwaves Mobile Browser is available globally and can be used on all carrier networks using industry standards for mobile data. More than 40 manufacturers around the world currently license the browser.

The O2 service also offers roaming capabilities allowing customers to send messages to Holland Ireland and Germany as well as throughout the UK.

The service comes with value-added services accessible via the O2 internet portal. These let customers store and edit photos adding special effects as well as creating and send messages online.

By bolting on O2 media messaging to their existing tariff customers can reduce the price per message to 28 pence. O2 customers will not pay to receive mutli-media messages.

MMS phones from launch include the Nokia 3510 (receive only) the Sony Ericcson T68i (with camera attachment) and the Nokia 7650.

Available soon will be the Sharp GX1 (exclusive to mmO2) the Nokia 6610 Nokia 7210 Sony Ericsson T300 and Siemens S55.

Our walk out working promise ensures that our customers will be able to use O2 media messaging as soon as they receive their handset said MmO2 chief marketing and data officer Kent Thexton.

O2 media messaging text alerts consisting of photographs and sound clips and covering sport entertainment gossip news travel finance and weather will be available from 15p. A major advertising campaign breaks next month with ads in specialist media and targeted locations to reach the younger consumer.

Called CapitalM8 the service is based on a service called Tune2Radio developed by Rocking Frog the wireless data technology business within BTExact BTs advanced research and technology business.

It works across all networks using SMS WAP and GPRS technology.

The service is split into several categories:

Dedic8 allows users to dedicate a track to a friend who will be alerted to the dedication 15 minutes before the track is played.

PlayM8 allows users to find out the name of both the last track and the track currently playing along with the name of the artists.

RingM8 lets users select and download Capitals top new tracks as ringtones directly from their mobile phone.

Additional services such as gig guides news and alerts for on-air features are also planned.

The interactive service can be used by any SMS or WAP phone but will be maximised for phones with GPRS functionality and an FM Radio such as the Nokia 8310 or 6510.

Nathalie Schwarz director of strategy and development at

Capital Radio said:

These services will add value to the listener experience build loyalty and strengthen Capitals relationship with our audiences.

The personalisation technology creates the ability to profile listener preferences which will provide our advertisers with targeted advertising and marketing opportunities.

Standard call charges apply plus 25p for each CapitalM8 message received and 1.50 for ringtones. The CapitalM8 SMS service is charged at standard rates for texting plus 25p for PlayM8 50p for Dedic8 and a maximum of 2.25 for RingM8.