Cellular Ring Tones: The Latest Way To Say This is Me!

Ringtones, those digital sound bites that 'ring' through cell phones especially during critical moments in darkened movie theaters, presentations, and anywhere there are signs posted to turn your cell phone off, have become a flaming financial success for the record and movie industry beyond all imagination. After the record industry lost billions to illegal downloads and digital music consumers and providers lost every court battle since, the market place going rate for an MP3 download has settled down to 99 cents per song. But then came ringtones! They can cost from $2.00 to $3.00 each and that's only for a 15 second sound clip of the same music! And the kids are willing to pay! Who knew?

My daughter introduced me to ringtones a few years ago with her cell in her hand coming down the stairs. "OK, call me." she said.

"When her cell phone rang, "Wow, it's the theme to Friends. Oh how cute!" I affirmed.

Then came the $300.00 cell bill. Then came the discussion. Then the youthful offense...the discussion about the offense...the offense about the discussion about the offense.. the new family rule and finally (drum roll please)... listening to more ringtones!

Today's ringtones have come a long way from those monophonic and polyphonic synthesized tones. Now they're called "mastertones" which are pure 15 second MP3 cuts from CD's or anywhere else music is produced. Whether downloaded directly into a cell phone from Verizon, Cingular, Sprint, or T-Mobile, or from an Internet site like Jamster, you can find ringtones and listen to samples from every genre of music, along with movie clips, wallpaper for your phone, and cell phone games. (in case there's a moment in the day that isn't filled up with music, DVD's, video games, and TV.)

Driven by the youth culture's insatiable hunger to individuate and customize, industry sales topped $4 Billion in 2004 world wide, and continually outsells all other musical sales online. That's right, ringtones are making more money than any song downloaded from iTunes, Napster, MusicMatch or anywhere else.

Take the case of Kyle. Barely in his twenties, he works, goes to school and has an active social life with lots of friends. "Would he consider doing an impromptu interview?" I wondered.

Twenty years his senior, I risked rejection, but since he rents a room in our house, and he was stuck watching his dinner cook on the stove, I knew I had a chance.

"Hey Kyle, how's it going? Do you download ringtones?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said with a slight tinge of embarrassment, "I buy a lot of ringtones." he said with a hesitance to leave the conversation and let his food burn. "Everyone of my friends and family all have their own." He's referring to the practice of assigning a specific ringtone to each individual in your contact list, so you know who's calling by the song that's played.

"Cool...can you remember who has what tone?" I asked.

"No. But each group has a similar sound, depending on who they are." I assume that means Marilyn Manson tunes would play for his Goth friends, and maybe Country Gospel for his family, etc.

I thought I was unique in discovering this tone assignment skill. I gave my daughter "Nocturne" on my Nokia phone, because she stays up late every chance she gets. The guy who worked in the cube next to me downloaded new ringtones every week, and assigned them to each person according to how he presently felt about them. A baby crying tone for his daughter, a rocketship blasting off for some business contact, scream sounds for his wife. All day long... ringtone after ringtone... week after week. I don't work there anymore.

Ringtones are so popular that Billboard now tracks the top 100 downloads. Hits like "My Goodies" by R&B singer Ciara have sold over 1 million ringtones.

The cell phone carriers maintain tight control of their systems and so far, the hacking industry hasn't figured out how to get a ringtone inside a cell phone directly, at least that I'm aware of. So this gold mine for the music industry has been piracy proof. Which means that the supply of new ringtones will never be exhausted.

Rick David writes a feature column entitled, "Don't Laugh, It Could Happen To You" for San Diego Merchant America.com

---

Buying a New Business Phone System

Buying a new business phone system is one of the... Read More

Cellular Phone Service

Cellular phone service ? pick the one you like.You can... Read More

Nokia Cellular Phone

Nokia cellular phone ? description.Nokia produces a large variety of... Read More

Cell Phone Security. How Vulnerable Are You?

There have been significant improvements made recently in cellular phone... Read More

Cell Phone in Forests

We are putting cell phone towers in the forests for... Read More

Ringtone Creation Software - Creating Raves or Waves?

Okay, so we all know that you can change the... Read More

Smartphones - Beyond Voice to Information and Entertainment

Investments in shares of wireless technology companies and wireless service... Read More

Prepaid Cellular Phone

Reasons why someone would purchase a prepaid cellular phone.Prepaid cellular... Read More

10 Questions About Cellular Phones Answered

1. What's the difference between analog and digital phones?Analog phones... Read More

Protective Accessories For Your Cell Phone

Like most electronic devices, cell phones are remarkably fragile. Your... Read More

Protect Yourself From Cell Phone Radiation

With cell phones quickly becoming an important part of our... Read More

Americans Catching on to Wireless Text Messaging

Once considered a teenage fad, text messaging popularity in the... Read More

Small Business Phone Systems ? A Brief Explanation

How a business presents itself to its customers has to... Read More

Letting Go of 3G - A Viable Alternative for Asian Carriers

Most Asian cellular carriers mulling over 3G have chalked out... Read More

Overview of Cellular Phone Carriers

How many times have you heard of people spending hundreds... Read More

Cell Phones Endanger Children

If your child uses a cell phone, take note. A... Read More

Senior Citizen Calling Tips

The AARP, American Association of Retired Persons, ( ... Read More

Cell Phone Safety - Am I Really At Risk

It's a sad commentary on the way of the world... Read More

Contemplating Selling Your Cell Tower Lease For A Lump Sum?

Many landowners who have leased land for a cell tower... Read More

Instant Messaging through Mobile Phones

Instant Messengers are very popular on PCs, with the advancement... Read More

Will Your Cell Phone Work in an Emergency?

If you're one of the millions of cell phone users... Read More

Renegotiating a Cell Tower Lease- Can It Be Done?

While cell towers actually started being built in the late... Read More

Recycling Mobile Phones

Recycle Cell PhonesTechnological advancements providing users with improved reception through... Read More

Cellular Phones and Television

What if you want to catch up on the morning... Read More

Prepaid Cell Phone Plans ? Are They For You?

Most Americans have cell phone plans with contracts that call... Read More

Cell Phone Abuse: Are You A Victim?

Like millions of others, you may be the victim of... Read More

Read This Before Getting A NEW Cellular Phone

It seems like these days, there are a million and... Read More

Grammy Award Winners Expected to be Heard on Cell Phones Soon

Trends in music come and go, but the crown jewel... Read More

Have Some Fun With Cell Phone Games

You're never too old to have some fun. With the... Read More

Cell Phone Reviews - Reaping the Benefits Of Online Wireless Reviews

There are a lot of benefits that are offered by... Read More

Getting the Most of Your Cell Phone Batteries

Are you planning on buying a new phone in the... Read More

Choosing The Right Phone and Voice Mail System

Phone and voice mail systems can be pretty costly, even... Read More

Camera Cell Phone Video

Camera cell phone video - description.Camera cell phone video is... Read More