by: Emily Sims
A quick Google search will produce countless articles trying to understand the popularity of 'ringtones'; hundreds of bloggers waxing lyrical on the benefits of personalising their cell phones. Interviews with ?experts? profering sexy theories about ringtones and identity construction lend an academic seriousness to the Crazy Frog phenomena. The figures are pretty serious too, in the U.S.A. alone, the Yankee Group predicts, ringtones will be worth $500 million. That?s roughly the GDP of Fiji.
Obviously our cell phones needs a voice, but does that voice need to be a polyphonic adaptation of 'Living on a Prayer'?
The latest figures indicate that young people are the greatest consumers of mobile music. According to one UK survey, 15-24 year olds account for 80% of ringtone spending. Studies by Nick Anderson of Sussex University show that young people are far more aware of the "brand personalty" (the particular identity affiliated with certain brands) than older generations. Anderson suggests that teenagers can deduce a person's character, likes and dislikes, by their branded possessions. Considering the amount of branding in the music industry, it's not unreasonable to say that popular musicians have their own ?brand personality?.
So, your 50 Cent ringtone, for example, communicates not only a your taste in music, but also your compliance to the whole ?Fiddy? meme. Ultimately, for brand savvy youth, this says something about your personality, which, you hope, everybody within earshot understands.
If a cell phone rings in the woods but nobody is around to hear it, are you still down with 50 Cent? Ringtones are about personalization, and about public performance. The publicness of the ringtone is an integral part of its appeal. It's unlikely that anyone would have a ringtone on their landline. In a noisy urban soundscape like the city, silence is an anomaly. Personalised ringtones are simply another irritating sound in the hullabaloo. Most of us manage tune out the sounds imposed on us: muzak, hawkers, traffic, the O'Reily factor, so why try and impose yet another squawk? Perhaps the ringtone is the audio equivalent of territorial pissing; thirty seconds in which YOU pick the soundtrack. For a few moments when your cell phone rings the 50 Cent meme is the most powerful in the sonic environment. Where ?Fiddy? is relatively redundant as a social force, certain ringtones allow citizens to demonstrate their dissatisfaction or support of a cause. Independent radio station WFMU have created a variety of anti- George W. Bush ringtones available for download, while engadget.com allows users to choose their preferred presidential candidate ringtone. Condemning other commuters to several cycles of 50 Cent, the theme from 'Star Wars' or a Dubya quote demonstrates your individual tastes and allows others distinguish you as either nemesis or brethren.
In our efforts to relieve poverty, impede environmental disaster or cure the global AIDs epidemic, ringtones are totally and utterly useless. When it comes to enforcing the myth that every individual is special, the artificial uniqueness of a personalized ringtone is just the ticket. Paradoxically, this demonstration of individualism is only really effective in a crowd. As far as this writer's concerned the real purpose of ringtones lies in their ridiculousness. A recent gathering of sensible adults turned to hilarity thanks to an improvised game of "Name that tune". Using Foovely's ringtone preview function, those gathered took turns choosing snippets of songs for the party to guess. Recognising a song in 30 seconds is SO much harder in monophone!
About The Author
Emily Sims is the word person at the cool ringtones (www.foovely.com) site foovely.com. While she dislikes his music, Emily thinks 50 Cent (ringtones.foovely.com/artists/50-cent.html) will probably get rich or die trying. Pity.
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Free Source Of Entertainment
Free Source Of Entertainment
by: Scarlet Pham
An extensive collection of funny stuff that includes funny jokes, funny pictures and funny flash. Everything that's funny on the Internet is right here to brighten your day. Check it out to have serious fun!
http://www.audio4fun.com/community.htm
FORUM
An interactive forum for you to share your ideas and tips of being anonymous online, how to make difference voices for audio books, how to sing in singers? voices, how to make your own CD, how to watch your favorite film in a different way, how to be a star in the movie you choose, and many other ?how-to??..
FREE TALKING ECARDS
A holiday e-card is an easy way to touch people's hearts on special days. It says more than words. Forget stamps, envelopes and long post office lines in holiday seasons.
FREE GAMES
A series of dangerous...
Free Source Of Entertainment
Ringtones > Free Source Of Entertainment
Cellphone Etiquette for the Clueless
Cellphone Etiquette for the Clueless
by: Emily Sims
There are very few people in this world who posses the kind of social graces intrinsic to the characters in an Austen novel. Some would argue the children of the ?information revolution? lack social propriety altogether. Despite the rumours that etiquette is dead, many of us do manage to exercise a little common courtesy toward our fellow man. After all etiquette exists simply to make the whole society caper a little less confrontational. The introduction of wireless communication has taken social interaction to an unprecedented level. Mobile technology allows people to communicate regardless of time or location, giving rise to a raft of contemporary etiquette concerns. Foremost among these concerns is consideration for the sensibilities of those in our physical presence when we take a call. Is it impolite, for example, to conduct a phone conversation whilst engaged in a carnal act? The contemporary...
Cellphone Etiquette for the Clueless
Ringtones > Cellphone Etiquette for the Clueless
The Most Beautiful Cell Phone Wallpaper
The Most Beautiful Cell Phone Wallpaper
by: Dominic Ferrara
Nowadays teenagers are crazy about personalizing their cell phone and about being able to make the difference. For that, they use different and complicated ringtones, logos, reminders and so on. The latest fashion in ?personalizing your cell phone? is the wallpaper. Different cell phone wallpapers can be downloaded from Internet, but at the same time they can take pictures and save them as cell phones wallpapers. Almost any cell phone user has become an artist and he wants his cell phone wallpaper to stand out and to show his personality and his taste.
The use of the cell phone has become less important, the main thing is what is fashionable. That is why the ringtones, cell phone wallpapers, tassels and hand painting of phones have appeared all over world. Ringtones are the most beloved choice in downloads, but cell phone wallpapers and screen savers are ?too hot? in teens? preferences....
The Most Beautiful Cell Phone Wallpaper
Ringtones > The Most Beautiful Cell Phone Wallpaper
The Future Of Mobile Phone Technology
The Future Of Mobile Phone Technology
by: Dave Lloyd
The past, present, and future of cell phones
Just in the last few years cell phones (usually called mobile phones outside the US) have become de facto standards for most of the population. What once used to be a luxury item for a select few that was carried around in a large leather bag and was the size of the brick, is no longer.
Technology has advanced the mobile phone industry to the point where the phone is a mere commodity for vendors, meaning that's not where they make the real money. It's in the service plans, which require 2 year commitments usually, where companies like Sprint, Nextel (now Sprint Nextel), AT&T (now Cingular), Cingular, Verizon, and T-Mobile make the revenues that enable the cycle of technology innovation and marketing to continue.
While the downsides of cell phones have focused primarily on the annoyance of public conversations and the small possibility...
The Future Of Mobile Phone Technology
Ringtones > The Future Of Mobile Phone Technology
Ringtones: What's the Point?
Ringtones: What's the Point?
by: Emily Sims
A quick Google search will produce countless articles trying to understand the popularity of 'ringtones'; hundreds of bloggers waxing lyrical on the benefits of personalising their cell phones. Interviews with ?experts? profering sexy theories about ringtones and identity construction lend an academic seriousness to the Crazy Frog phenomena. The figures are pretty serious too, in the U.S.A. alone, the Yankee Group predicts, ringtones will be worth $500 million. That?s roughly the GDP of Fiji.
Obviously our cell phones needs a voice, but does that voice need to be a polyphonic adaptation of 'Living on a Prayer'?
The latest figures indicate that young people are the greatest consumers of mobile music. According to one UK survey, 15-24 year olds account for 80% of ringtone spending. Studies by Nick Anderson of Sussex University show that young people are far more aware of the "brand personalty" (the...
Ringtones: What's the Point?
Ringtones > Ringtones: What's the Point?
Mobile Reliant. Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Payphone!
Mobile Reliant. Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Payphone!
by: Emily Sims
I?m waiting for a friend to pick me up. There are nine people coming for dinner and I?m cooking. Our whole evening depends on my hasty retrieval from the train station, and I?ve forgotten my mobile phone. I was standing on the platform, fumbling for it in my bag, when I realised my phone was absent. I had told my friend that I?d call her when I arrived at the station. Unsettled, but not yet disturbed, I located the nearest payphone and picked up the receiver. It was then it dawned on me: I didn?t know the number. The number was in my mobile phone! So, now I am sitting outside the station wondering why I didn?t specify a time or place to be picked up. I watch other commuters rushing out of the station. I envy them their good memories and handheld gadgets. ?Hi, mate. Yeah I?m at the station. Where are you??, a man declares to the other half of the conversation, instantaneously...
Mobile Reliant. Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Payphone!
Ringtones > Mobile Reliant. Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Payphone!
Have You Tried Beds Like The New Style Waterbeds?
Have You Tried Beds Like The New Style Waterbeds?
by: Hazel Prechtel
Waterbeds are a very popular bedroom option because they provide such a gorgeous sleep and total rest for the entire slumber. Waterbeds are a revolution in sleeping because as soon as you lie on a waterbed you will notice a big difference from your normal bed. A waterbed feels a lot different from your traditional inner spring mattress style bed.
In any event though, the waterbeds of today...
Ringtones: What's the Point? Ringtones mattress
Ringtones > Have You Tried Beds Like The New Style Waterbeds?
10 Keys to Creating a Profitable Online Business
10 Keys to Creating a Profitable Online Business
by: Jan Peterson
Starting an online business is not always as easy as it may sound. But, running an online business has many benefits over its offline counterpart. First, and the most appealing, is you'll most likely be working from home from your own computer, and working the hours that suit you. And secondly, you have the potential to make a lot more money than you would if you were working for someone else....
business cards
Ringtones > 10 Keys to Creating a Profitable Online Business
Commercial Patio Furniture
Commercial Patio Furniture
by: Cat Greenbriar
Great patio furniture is a very important way to accent your business outdoor accommodations. Beautiful patio furniture is a perfect way to ensure your guests comfort and happiness while staying at your resort or business. If you own a major business or property, you understand the importance of buying quality patio furniture and a price that is suitable for your budget. By ordering commercial patio furniture at an...
hotels Ringtones: What's the Point? Ringtones
Ringtones > Commercial Patio Furniture
Tips on How to Look Slimmer
Tips on How to Look Slimmer
by: Marilyn Pokorney
On a diet? Losing weight? Need to look slimmer until the
big day arrives when you step on the scale and have achieved
your goal?
Or are you happy with your weight but still want to appear
slimmer? Here are some tips from the experts.
* Wear wide leg pants and avoid cuffs.
* Wear the right size. Trying to squeeze into something
too small only makes you look even heavier.
*...
skirts Ringtones: What's the Point? Ringtones Tips on How to Look Slimmer
Ringtones > Tips on How to Look Slimmer