Fans will be able to download Stop Me to their "third generation" mobile phones for 99p from 8 May.

Alex Neri of Planet Funk, who had a top five hit in 2001, with Chase the Sun, said: "Releasing Stop Me on 3 makes perfect sense for us.

"People's musical habits are changing and millions of people now effectively have a record shop in their pocket 24 hours a day."

'Impulsive consumers'

CD single sales have been in rapid decline over the past nine years, even before the advent of music downloads.

The British Phonographic Industry reports that since records began in 2004 for music downloads they have shown a sharp rise.

Graeme Oxby, 3's marketing director believes mobile phones will play an increasingly important part in the future of music sales.

"Mobile is a great way to reach impulsive consumers who want to buy and listen to music wherever they are...and we believe it should be open to anyone and everyone," he said.