MP3 ringtones, otherwise known as Truetones or Realtones, are the most popular form of ringtone. This comes as no surprise since nearly every cell phone produced in the past few years has built in support for this new, high-quality ringtone format.
What makes MP3 ringtones so popular? Undoubtedly the quality is the first reason, but also the incredible variety of ringtone selections available via the cell phone's built in browsers (or "media malls"), the ability to send tones from one phone to another, and the even larger selection available from the internet. It is very easy for an owner of a newer cell phone to have ringtones sent directly from their internet-connected PC to their phone. This is possible either with the cables that should have came packaged with the phone, or by signing up with many of the online ringtone services - which enables the user to have ringtones sent directly to their phone without fussing with any form of hard wires.
MP3 ringtones are responsible for over three quarters of all customizable digital cell phone purchases. One might recall the older forms of ringtones available in the infancy of cellular communications - the monophonic or polyphonic ringtones, and the relatively short-lived midi tones. Since the inception of Truetones, these formats have lost popularity and account for less than a quarter of all ringtone purchases.
If the reader has purchased a Realtone, they aren't alone - over 24 million mobile customers have purchased and used this higher quality format according to a study conducted in mid 2006. This transitional phase has been compared to CDs and cassette tapes.
Gone are the days of dial tones - remember what one of those sounds like? But soon enough we might have trouble remembering what an actual ring sounds like, coming from the other end of the phone line when you make a call. Since the popularity of MP3 ringtones has exploded in the past few years, another customization option has been made available for cell users: the Ringback tone. Instead of hearing the usual ring when waiting for the second party to answer a call, the caller will hear a personalized "ring," most often a song.
The functionality and customizable options for cell phones has continued to grow, and will continue to do so until the next paradigm in telephony communications - one can only wonder what will be available in just a few years time. However, for the time being, and more than likely for quite some time, MP3 ringtones will be the best option for any person interested in having a ringtone that is not only a form of self expression, but is cheap and high-quality.
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on ringtones and free mp3 ringtones at http://www.ringtonesvault.com
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