Using 3ga files on Nokia 6280 on '3'.

Is there any way to use a .3ga file as a ringtone? Whenever I try and set it, it says "Not allowed by activation key". I don't know if this is because it has DRM on it or something?? If so, can the 6280 use .dm files as a ringtone? I tried this too and it says file format not supported. Or is there a way of converting from .3ga to .mp3?
Ric

[Hands0n]

Hello Turnjerr12, welcome to Talk3G

.3ga files are DRM protected and so your use of it is going to be restricted. Where are you getting the .3ga files from (if thats not too pointed a question ) - if they are downloaded from 3's portal they should just work in the handset fine. If not I'd get on to 3's Customer Services and make a case with them, at least for a refund for ringtones that dont work on their supplied handsets!

You could try doing a Google on "3ga to mp3 converter" and see what comes up. There is probably a way, but the challenge is breaking the DRM to turn them into [free of DRM] MP3 format.

It was downloaded from 3's portal - from the 'Tunes and Pix' page and I have got 3 to reimburse me (although it's still not showing up on my account). So although I'm not out of pocket I still want to be able to choose a .3ga as my ringtone. I have managed to get around the drm stuff by using Nokia's Mobile Internet Kit from the Nokia Developer website and you can workaround the drm stuff. However, that gives you a .dm file that I used to be able to play on my SE K700i but my Nokia 6280 says it is not supported.

Done a google and although there are many sites saying they can convert from .3ga to .mp3 when you go to them they don't - only the normal wav/amr/mp3/etc conversions. Only way I can think of is to find a .dm to mp3 converter and that's like hen's teeth too.

Any more ideas? Can't stand my crap standard ringtones.

[Hands0n]

Serious suggestion: What my kids and their peers do is to go to the ringtone websites, use the "play sample" button and record directly onto their handset from the PCs loudspeakers. It ain't exactly elegant, but I must admit, it is hard to tell the difference seeing as it is just a ringtone and nothing more. Hardly much need to be in HiFi CD quality

I think it is incredible that 3 are selling ringtones for handsets they supply that cannot be played on those handsets, and wonder if this is a more generic problem across the other mobile operators also. What a completely crazy situation to exist!

DRM, ahhhhh, that great disabler!

Ok, here is what I know about 3GA files. I too have a Nokia 6280 on 3 and tried to copy some 3GA files that I purchased from 3 a long time ago (I originally purchased these when I had a LG U8120, from which I extracted them using G Thing) and was able to transfer them to a Moto E1000 on which they worked, but the 6280 wont play them.

Ok, you can play 3GA files on the PC simply by renaming the extension to .3GP and then quicktime will play the file. Also it appears that 3 are not just using this format for ringtones, but I have downloaded a few full tracks to my 6280 from 3 and these have also been in .3GA format but anything in this format that I downloaded to my 6280 wont play on the PC (only the ones which I originally downloaded on the LG). I think that 3 have done this deliberately as they where the ones who originally requested a new extension for a audio only container to the 3GPP consortium, and this was .3GA