Ringtone Hype

Overhype

from the paying-for-the-sound-of-silence dept

I’ve written before about the wireless carriers’ current obsession with ringtones. It appears to be a booming business, to the point that others are muscling in on the carrier’s turf by offering “non-authorized” ringtones or even the ability to make your own ringtones (for a fee, of course). While it may be good money in the short run, I still don’t see how it’s sustainable. As mobile phone platforms are increasingly open and standardized, ringtones will go through the same Napsterization process, where many will be available for free. Meanwhile, I still don’t understand what’s wrong with the good, old-fashioned vibrate mode that doesn’t bother anyone around you. However, the article does mention the growing popularity of the silent ringtone that we wrote about last week. Apparently, it costs $2. Incredible. We’ve reached the point where people are willing to pay to have their mobile phone not ring. Maybe the next step is letting people pay to have someone else’s mobile phone not ring. “My goodness is your ringtone annoying. Here’s $2. Go buy yourself a silent ringtone.”