I Am Adam Smith

Ringback Tones

The next new thing in mobile media is going to be "Ringbacks". Basically, when someone calls you instead of them hearing the phone ring normally, "brrrriiing, brrrinnng", they'll hear the song or recorded message you've set up.

Good business/techy overview here in Wireless: Buis and Tech. Says that ringbacks are much easier to deploy, because everythings done on the network. Also discusses how mobile media services, such as ringbacks can be bundled in the future.

Mobliss - Ringtone content/tech vendor

Mobliss, from their About Us, Ringtone page

Mobile storefronts
Mobliss creates WAP sites through which mobile users can download ringtones and graphics, and can brand these offerings in several creative ways. Through micro-browser artist channels, or fan packs, Mobliss also offers content bundles centered around music genres or specific artists. These channels contain unique editorial content, graphics, tones, video and audio clips, as well as integrated messaging and community elements. Mobliss recently launched a WAP storefront on mMode from AT&T Wireless.

Web-based mobile storefronts
We build and host Web storefronts that give mobile users easy access to music, images, and information alerts from their favorite artists, sports teams, and publications. We work closely with our clients to ensure a superb user experience.

BREW applications
Leveraging our BREW experience, we produce graphics, wallpaper, ringtone applications, and games for brands and media companies.

Bringing ringtones and graphics to mobile users is just the beginning at Mobliss. We also help brands incorporate music and images into their marketing campaigns. Through calls to action in print ads combined with Mobliss’ technology infrastructure, companies can offer downloadable music and graphics to mobile users. The result: excited audiences and new revenue streams for marketers. Contact us and we’ll help you get even more out of your marketing with downloadable mobile offerings.

WP Article on Ringtones

Fellowship of the Ring: Customized Cell Tones  Article

IDC estimates that ring tones -- usually a pop or hip-hop song downloaded from Web sites for a fee, from 99 cents to $2.99 -- brought in $316 million this year, up from last year's $98 million.

"The key point here is personalization -- anything you do to that cell phone reflects who you are. It's a statement," says Lewis Ward, senior research analyst in wireless and mobile communications for IDC. In the past three years, cell phone users under 24 years old have been quick in adapting new phone programs, says Ward. "Soon enough, though, everyone else catches on," he adds.

The graphics content on cell phones -- the caller ID graphics, screen savers, etc. -- brought in a little under $150 million this year, he says, and he expects it to grow to more than $1.1 billion by 2008.

An article from Newsday: Getting the Tone to you

There are basically two ways to download a ringtone. From your computer, log onto the ringtone site and purchase the tune you want; you'll be asked to provide your wireless number, and the ringtone will be sent to your phone either as a Web link or a text message. Or you can simply access the Internet via your phone and download the ringtone directly.

Most wireless carriers have ringtones available on their Web sites. In addition, here are a few other sites where you can download. Click on Help or Support to find out whether your phone can accommodate polyphonic ringtones or true tones.


www.mobileringtonez. com - Contains some free ringtones, as well as true tones, wallpapers and games.


www.mtv.com/starmtv/ringtones - Monophonic ringtones are $1, polyphonic ringtones are $2 and DigiTones - actual songs - are $2.50.


www.modtones.com - Thousands of polyphonic ringtones in such categories as "Ringtone Turkeys," which includes such questionable classics as "Maniac" from the movie "Flashdance" and Barry Manilow's "I Can't Smile Without You."


www.3Gupload.com - Asubscription service in which you can download unlimited ringtones for $6.99 for six months, $9.99 for a year.


www.ringtonia.com - Everything you always wanted to know about ringtones but were afraid to ask.

Dwango Wireless

Dwango Wireless just announced a deal with Napster to deliver mobile ringtones.

From the press release

The "Napster Mobile" service will offer wireless customers access to ringtones, using an integrated technology extending from the PC to mobile devices.

The service, scheduled to launch in the U.S. and Canada in 2005, will let Napster Mobile customers choose ringtones from a song catalog and earn credits for Napster's online music service.

From time to time, Napster will send out promotional codes through the users' phones redeemable for discounts on subscriptions or download credits on Napster's service.

About Dwango

We provide private labeled, end-to-end mobile solutions and services. Beyond games, ringtones and media, we have demonstrated the technical proficiency to develop entire platforms and the necessary business relationships to distribute through all major wireless carriers. To our customers this means, better market exposure and more revenue... you provide the brand, we provide the solution.

InfoSpace Mobile - Leading Ringtone Firm

Infospace Mobile is the biggest player in the creation and delivery of ringtones. They partnerships include mobile carriers, artists and labels, retailers (7-11, McDonalds), technology partners, and portals.

They acquired Moviso in October, 2003.

Starting to track the ringtone market

I'm going to start tracking whats happening in the cell phone ringtone space, along with the standard fare of travel, technology, startup, and venture capital observations.

I have an idea I'm researching for a possible startup company in the ringtone market. The market's huge, somewhere from $1 to $3 billion globally (amounting to 3to10% of the global music industry). The US market is somewhere between $150 and $300m today, projected to grow to $900M in 2008. These numbers come from several research firms, and vary widely because mobile carriers don't release revenues from multimedia content delivery. 

A concise, informative overview of how the ringtone industry works can be found at Ringtonia, in an article written by Gareth Marples