More ways to get music on your mobile

Good news for those who dig downloading ringtones -- two separate services from gotalk and Nokia have recently launched with the aim of making your mobile more musical.

Gold Coast-based telco gotalk has inked a deal with Universal Music allowing the Aussie company to sell prepaid mobile content cards. The snappily named Universal Music Content Cards, available in $10, $20 and $30 amounts, give Australian mobile phone users access to Universal's download catalogue of ringtones, wallpaper and videotones for the first time. Artists signed to Universal's extensive roster include chart toppers U2, Gwen Stefani, the Scissor Sisters and the Black Eyed Peas.

The partnership launches today with the release of a set of limited edition, "collectable" cards featuring Jay Z, PussyCat Dolls, Rihanna and Akon. Cards are available at gotalk reseller outlets including Coles, Australia Post, Kmart, Caltex, Harvey Norman, BP, Mobil, Dick Smith and Woolworths. All Australian mobile phone networks are compatible with the service, but gotalk customers score a 40 percent discount on everything, with pricing from $2.39 per ringtone. Check out the selection at http://umusic.gotalk.com.

If you're more into Radiohead than Rihanna, Nokia's Music Recommenders service may suit your sonic style. The company recently unveiled a Web site where representatives from 40 independent music stores handpick up-and-coming artists for your listening pleasure. Helmed by reknowned rocker and jumpsuit wearer David Bowie, the project emphasises the human factor, with promo dollars and marketing campaigns echewed in favour of "real people, working in real record stores, telling you what they love", according to David Watkins, Nokia's APAC director of multimedia sales.

Participating record stores include New York's Fat Beats, France's Crocodisc, and Missing Link in Melbourne, which specialises in underground rock. Users choose their preferred musical genres -- from experimental jazz to Asian pop -- and receive a list of recommendations each month. Songs can be purchased in protected WMA format for $1.99 per track, and will play on a computer or mobile phone.