Want a music player, but you can’t afford an iPod?

Just wait a while, and you’ll be able to hear your favorite songs coming through your cell phone.

With the recent success of portable music players, and difficulties finding new mobile customers, cell phone companies are looking to get in on the action by building high-quality music players into their phones.

These combination phone/music players will work along the same lines as digital music players, with customers loading songs onto their phones off their PCs.

The number one cell phone maker in the world, Nokia Corp., will be forming an alliance with Microsoft under which mobile phone owners will be able to download music off their computers and onto their phones.

However, unlike MP3 players, the Nokia players will download tracks directly onto the phone through wireless networks.

The files can also be transferred onto computers for storage or later burning onto a CD. The Seattle-based Loudeye Corp. will provide a download service to make songs available for users of the new Nokia phones.

Nokia showed off a new product at the 3GSM World Congress, a gathering of the mobile industry from all over the world. The product, called the “3G” phone, includes an integrated music player and high-quality stereo speakers.

The company also unveiled three new models Feb. 14: two 3G ‘smartphones,’ the 6680 and 6681.

The 6681 includes a music player that delivers high-quality audio through a stereo output.

The phone also has a program that can be used to organize music tracks into playlists, similar to those on iPods.

The Nokia 6681 phone has up to a gigabyte of storage.

This is about a quarter of the storage space on the iPod Mini.

Other companies are getting in on the action too.

Sony Ericsson made the announcement Feb. 14 that it would begin marketing mobile phones with music playing capabilities.

These phones will be marketed under Sony’s Walkman brand, and will include music from Sony BMG, a sister company that produces records.

Cell phone companies are rushing to bring these new music players into the market in order to boost their falling revenues.

The cell phone market is facing losses from oversaturation of mobile companies, as well as other technologies.

Internet programs that offer free voice calls are a threat to cell phone companies, which has caused mobile companies to look toward entertainment to keep their customers loyal.

Some companies, such as Motorola Inc., are embracing Internet technology, by teaming up with Internet phone company Skype Technologies SA to explore the possibilities of Internet telephone services.

Others, like Nokia, have plans to draw new customers by offering services like wireless gaming and instant messaging on their cell phones.

Future services may include pay-TV and remote banking services.