[Wodgy]

I just don't get the appeal of ringtones. I know I'm in the minority, given that last year's ringtone sales totalled $9 billion USD! That number is 45% of the total worldwide recorded music sales reported by the IFPI. Unbelievable to me.

I understand the point of having a sound that differentiates your phone from everyone else's, but why aren't short, simple sound effects more popular? What makes snippets of popular songs played on a horribly tinny-sounding little speaker appealing?

Any compulsive ringtone buyers here? How often do you change your ringtone? Don't you find them irritating? Does anyone actually enjoy hearing other people's ringtones?

 

[ricksome]

I agree with you on this!

 

[GlendaleViper]

In total agreement with you here. I'm perfectly happy with the vibrating pleasure greeting I get in my pocket any time someone calls or texts, thank you very much.

 

[Kirosia]

I have a few different ringtones, but only use one (for all calls) at a time. I just got lazy assigning them to different numbers, since no one really calls me.

And to answer the question, I think people do it because they want others to know who or what kind of music they listen to.

 

[F107plus5]

My favorite ringtones were always the mechanical bells used on the dial-phones I grew up with.

....my Aunts phone still used a crank and her particular ring was three longs, two shorts and a long(if I remember correctly)and ours was simply three shorts.

They were really loud! We used a volume control on ours though.

....a small piece of masking tape on each bell.

I was always glad that the phone was invented by a guy named "Bell" rather than someone called Mr. Fhart.

 

[GAD]

My cell phones are always on vibrate. I despise hearing phones ring - especially other people in meetings.

GAD

 

[DJShadow]

Any more frogs with their packet hanging out and I'll personally kill that Dutch entrepreneur who perpetrated such an abomination.

In the UK at least, I really don't know anyone who has purchased a ringtone. Ever. Especially when you can so easily put files onto your phone.

 

[Trippytiger]

I'm with you. Bad songs blaring on awful speakers isn't appealing at all. And paying $2-$4 for the privilege? No thanks. I keep my phone on vibrate or silent mode most of the time, so it doesn't go off in any of my classes.

I'll admit to having a ringtone that I made myself from the Final Fantasy VII victory music, though. /geek

 

[Jigglybootch]

I have to admit that at first I was impressed with ringtones. But now I just don't care.

 

[lostspyder]

It let's us make our phones our phones. I use them, but mainly rhythms (zelda theme now) without vocals. They let me identify my phone from everyone else's - especially when you get the 'free phone' that everyone has.

 

[xnothingpoetic]

I can't hear my phone with IEMs. So it's ALWAYS on vibrate.

But I agree with you.

BTW, aren't there ways to get custom ringtones for free?

 

[uofmtiger]

I have had the same ringtone (that I made) for years. However, I do not find other people's ringtones annoying because I don't pay any attention to them once I know it is not my phone ringing. In most places I have mine on vibrate, but at work I leave the ringer on because I take the phone out of my pocket when I am at my desk.

 

[jules650]

I've always used a classic ringtone on mine. Everyone has unique ringtones so I get comments like 'That really sounds like a phone'.

There's nothing worse then Jingle Bells ringing in the middle of an audit meeting.

 

[FalconP]

No one in the world enjoys listening to a stranger's ringtones. No one.

 

[Trippytiger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xnothingpoetic /img/forum/go_quote.gif BTW, aren't there ways to get custom ringtones for free?

It depends a lot on your phone and your carrier, but there's usually ways to transfer files from a computer to the cell phone. I used Motorola Phone Tools to put my one ring tone and some new wallpapers on to my RAZR. Free (ish... my copy of MPT isn't super legal) and easy!