Ringtone

A ringtone, formerly referred to as a ringtone, is generally a signal for the end user of a telephone call. He is now generated in the terminal device technology, in contrast to the ringer in older plants, which are generated in the local exchange. In mobile communications, making it today an audio file meant to be played by mobile phones during an incoming call. As Template are often popular tunes, but also awards and noise.

Data formats for mobile devices

MIDI

Usually ( midi file extension., Or mid. ) Is a source of a ringtone for mobile phones used a MIDI file. It contains encoded a sequence of codes for length and height and characteristics of single tones (notes ) of an instrument or several instruments.

Proprietary formats

Many mobile phones, especially older who can not play polyphonic ringtones, use your own formats. These include:

  • Nokring (Nokia Ring Tone Text Transfer Language ( RTTTL ) ): This format has become a de facto standard for the exchange of rings.
  • IMelody and the predecessor eMelody (Siemens, Ericsson ): Open standard IrDA
  • SMAF (Synthetic Music Mobile Application ) ( Samsung): A Yamaha Standard with extension MMF.

These formats are designed for the display of ring tones and thus support exactly the necessary features ( for example, partly no polyphony ). The advantage is that these formats consist in a compact ASCII representation, so that it is possible in these formats Ringtones Send via SMS.

MP3

An actual possibility that is supported by all of the new mobile phone, the use of the MP3 format. This process is often somewhat misleading as real music called ( has nothing to do with the Real Player file format). Unlike MIDI files are here, no individual tones, but almost the entire perceivable by human sound range shown ( Reduced data CD quality). MP3 files can be much larger than MIDI files, depending on the bit rate. The decoding of these files is much more complex than other ringing compatible formats, so powerful terminals are needed.

Video

For new phones, it is also possible to play short videos as a ringtone.

Uploading of ringtones on mobile devices

The uploading of ringtones can be done in different ways.

  • Typing the melody
  • WAP link via SMS
  • MMS
  • WAP
  • GPRS
  • Bluetooth or infrared connection from a mobile telephone to the other
  • Bluetooth or infrared connection from PC to mobile phone
  • Wireless connection from PC to mobile phone
  • Cable connection from the PC to the mobile phone
  • Transfer via memory card
  • USB or serial cable connection to PC

Costs and marketing

Buying a ring tone costs 1.99 euros in the rule. Settlement is often the premium SMS or calling 0900 numbers. Prices of 1.86 euros per minute are for calls from the fixed network, from mobile phones it is even more expensive depending on your plan. In March 2005, noted the Directors' Conference of the German state media authorities that advertising in the four German music TV stations (eg MTV, VIVA ) for the vast majority consisted of spots for ringtones. Partially accounted for over ninety percent of the allowed advertising time on it. The main provider Fox Mobile Distribution, marketed in Germany under the former name of Jamba, invested in 2004 alone 90 million euros in German commercials, surpassing companies like McDonald's. Through massive advertising campaigns and the constant shopping facilities, it has become a habit for many young people, often to buy new ringtone melodies and use. Many activities are also misleading, so that the customer inadvertently enters into a subscription from alleged purchase a ringtone. Some providers allow the selection of ringtones only a paid dialer ( dialer ), which can result in high connection costs. According to a judgment of the District Court Berlin-Mitte in 2008, contracts with minors are not legally effective, parents can not therefore be held liable for any additional costs.

Many people feel massively disrupted by the playing in public ringtones. Therefore, in some areas, the use of mobile phones is prohibited.

Economic Importance

From the original idea to make the distinction between phones and caller tunes set to a separate industry for marketing of ringtones has developed strongly, with sales accounting for a significant part of the music industry.

2004 were bought for about 183 million euros in Germany ringtones; However, in addition there are also free programs with which you can convert existing music data into ringtones.

Since 2007, revenues have declined significantly with ring tones, especially in Europe. Especially in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, the share of mobile phone owners who bought ringtones has declined. In the UK in October 2007, only 3.4 percent of users purchased ringtones. Overall, the industry lost in Europe around four percent. According to the Bitkom sales in Germany in 2007 decreased by 26 percent compared to the previous year, compared with 2006, the number of downloaded ringtones has declined by about 6.6 million to 23.2 million. One reason is that increasingly complete songs are downloaded.

Nokia tune Mobile telephony Polyphony and monophony in instruments Subscription business model Ringback tone
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