Some background info: Saw another site using this affiliate programme, so I joined up, but never implemented it. They basically allow you to access their catalogue of cell-phone ringtones, backgrounds, games etc., using an API. You can choose what you put on your site and clicks go through to their site to conclude the sale.

Today I received an e-mail notifying me that they are stopping the South African affiliate programme tomorrow. That's one day's notice. There are sites using this programme actively. Which means these sites will lose income until they find and implement an alternative. And have to urgently remove affiliate content to save users some frustration.

Guess the moral of the story is to avoid doing business with Fox Mobile Group if you can. And to not rely on one ad / affiliate network. And give clients some notice if you need to shut something down.

Here's the full e-mail (I love the superfluous PR spin of the first paragraph):

Dear Affiliate,

I would like to inform you of an important change to the Jamster South Africa Affiliate Programme.

With regret, we have decided to permanently stop all Affiliation in South Africa as from Friday 4th December 2009 at midnight. This means all existing and new affiliate links to the portal will cease to exist thereafter.

We will of course payout on all successful sales generated on or before 4th December to any affiliate. In light of this, please can you remove all links to Jamster after this date as they will not be active any longer.

This decision was not taken lightly and we hope it does not cause too much inconvenience. On this occasion, I would like to take the opportunity to personally thank all those affiliates who have participated with the Jamster South Africa programme and wish you all the best for the future.

Kind Regards, Natasha Braganca, Online Marketing UK, Fox Mobile Group, A  News Corporation Company