With each succeeding year, mobile providers offer an every growing number of ways to keep cell phone, smartphone and PDA users abreast of what's happening during March Madness. With the brackets drawn and the NCAA Men's Division I basketball tournament set to start later this week, 2008 is no different.

For instance, AT&T, the country's largest mobile operator, is offering subscribers exclusive access to video highlights from each NCAA Tournament game. The highlights are available as Cellular Video (CV) via AT&T’s MEdia Net NCAA March Madness portal on AT&T cell phones and smartphones.

AT&T says its MEdia Net NCAA March Madness portal will feature in-depth information, such as top men’s tournament news stories, scoring updates, polls and NCAA basketball trivia, as well as access to exclusive video highlights from every game. You'll also be able to watch bracket analysis and on-court interviews.

Access the AT&T MEdia Net NCAA March Madness portal by launching MEdia Net and then visiting the main sports home page. There is no subscription fee, but standard data-usage charges apply.

The portal also features the AT&T 2008 Bracket Challenge, giving wireless users the power to make, track and manage their tournament bracket from their phone. Those participating in the Bracket Challenge compete against each other for a chance at $10,000.

Entrants are invited to predict the winners of men’s tournament games and earn points for correct picks. Prizes will be awarded in a random drawing among the eligible entrants within the top 10 percent of overall points earned, according to AT&T.

In related news, Mobile ad provider 4INFO recently launched a new service, called 4INFO Tournament Alerts, that text messages file score results after every NCAA men's tournament game. Subscribers can choose to follow individual teams or the whole enchilada.

One feature of the service, "Upset Alerts," aims to ensure that you never miss the final minutes of the tournament's most exciting games. The idea is to let subscribers "know when to dash to a TV to catch an upset live," according to 4INFO VP Ted Burns, “As we see it, life's obligations shouldn't get in the way of a great basketball game." Okay.

To sign up for the full 4INFO Tournament Pass text alert service (score and upset alerts for all games in the championship tournament), text "TOURNEYPASS" to 4INFO (44636) or visit the 4INFO WAP site m.4INFO.net from your phone or www.4info.netfrom a desktop.

Here are some a couple of additional ways to keep March Madness at hand:

 Sprint's got its own video and news services covering the men's tournament.

 The MediaFLO mobile TV service, available only through Verizon in the U.S. so far, has been providing live coverage of top ranked men’s college basketball match-ups this year, including championship games across all major conferences. It will continue to do so—with its partners CBS Mobile, ESPN Mobile TV and FOX Mobile—through the men's NCAA tournament.

 ESPN is also delivering coverage through the competing mobiTV service.