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Ringback Tones For Cell Phones
Get ready for ringback tones. As a caller, when you dial a cell phone number - or a regular telephone for that matter, you typically hear the standard "ring-ring" until the phone is answered at the other end. That's been normal perhaps since the telephone was invented. But not much longer. [MORE...]
The list of available ringback services reads like a who's who of cell phone network carriers. From Verizon to Sprint to T-Mobile, and others in between, the ringback stands out as one of the hottest trends in mobile phone personalization.
Free ringback tones are highly sought after but rare. Unlike cell phone ringtones, ringbacks are not downloaded but reside on your mobile carrier's network, ready to be played instead of the outdated ring that your caller normally hears. It is free only if your carrier makes it so.
Movie ringback tones are striking up some familiar quips and tunes, perhaps from the latest hit movies or one of Hollywood's oldies but goodies. Now you can delight your callers with your favorite movie sound bite or the theme song to a box-office flick.
"Ringback tones have proven to be very popular, particularly top hits and those tracks that lend themselves well to the mobile environment," said Mikael Bäckström, general manager and VP of global services for Ericsson North America.
Verizon Wireless has college ringbacks. The service offers students and alumni specifically designed ring back tones from over 200 colleges and universities.
If a Dialogic cell phone product, formerly known as MyCaller, follows the cell phone ringtones craze, "ring-ring" may soon become history.
NMS Communications (now Dialogic), which markets MyCaller, is hoping the no-download, handset-independent paradigm appeals to both carriers and subscribers.
Vodafone Germany, T-Mobile Germany, and T-Mobile UK currently offer ringbacks as part of their cell phone services in Europe. The service is also available in North America.
In Canada, Rogers Wireless built its Caller Ring Trax service on the MyCaller personalized mobile entertainment platform.
"Ringback tones have proven to be very popular, particularly top hits and those tracks that lend themselves well to the mobile environment," said Mikael Bäckström, general manager and VP of global services for Ericsson North America. The company distributes ringbacks from EMI's prestigious catalog of recorded music.
"Our agreement with Ericsson will allow music fans across the country to personalize their mobile experience even more with music from both current chart toppers and artists from EMI's legendary catalog," said Thomas Ryan, senior VP of mobile and digital business development at EMI Music North America.
"Ringbacks provide a great way to express oneself. It's a lot more fun to hear something like Blondie's 'Call Me', or Right Said Fred's 'I'm Too Sexy' than a boring ring."