T-Mobile introducing ringback tones soon
By Peter Rojas 
posted Nov 18th 2004 2:14PM
posted Nov 18th 2004 2:14PM
Verizon Wireless is already testing a ringback tone
service right now in parts of California, but we just got a hot tip from a highly reliable source that T-Mobile has
"imminent plans to announce a nationwide ringback service" of their own. T-Mobile had no comment when we asked them
about this, but they didn't deny it, either.
P.S. - In case you aren't familiar with ringback tones (and believe us, you will be very soon), they're basically
customized audio clips that callers hear when they dial your number instead of the usual ringing sound.
I wish T-Mobile would add some real much-needed functions to their network, like faster data through EDGE or something, instead of this crap.
Excellent. Sign me up. We'll see how many are willing to sit through my recording of a fax machine while waiting for me to pick up.
i might pay 3 bucks a year for this definitely. Sign me up!!!
Just for completeness' sake, T-Mobile has been offering ringback-tones in Germany for some time now, so they should at least know how to do it...
That's pretty interesting, I wonder if there is a visual system in the works allowing you to send a picture of yourself in addition to audio component.
Hasn't that service been available for a while? I thought you could do that already...
t-mobile is offering this service in UK now
it costs £1 a month and £1.50 per tune
and they have a huge collection of tunes.
Hey Engadget, can you ask your reliable T-Mobile source why there is no MDAIII in the U.S. yet?
What a fabulous source for irritation.
You could make your ringback tone a recording of your voice saying, "Hello?" and people would never know when you answer....
It has already been introduced in India and as you can imagine, it's a fabulous succcess.
Mine is set to John Denvar's Annie's song :)
The service is also available in Hungary, for a monthly fee of 300 Ft ($1.50) and 300 Ft/tune. You can have 20 tunes simultaneously, but a tune can be assigned to any number (so you can have different tones for your girlfriend, your boss etc.).
IIRC, it's going to be $3/month, an additional fee for each tune you get. *tune should be a nifty tool once they get it up & running. ;-) Supposed to be out by the end of the month, but you know how that kind of thing goes...never on time.
It's true that we (UK) have had this service for a while now but does anybody know if the caller has to pay to listen to this ringback tone? normally, when we ring and get the usual ringing tone, this cost us nothing but if we get the ringback tone, surely this involves connecting to some server to play this tone and therefore induces some sort of cost to somebody? just a thought...
This service has also been launched in Malaysia with Maxis. Check out:
http://www.maxis.com.my/personal/mobile/vas/caller_ringtones/caller_ringtones.asp
or
http://www.hotlink.com.my/level2/hotlevel2.asp?AID=2583
I went to 3GSM congress in Cannes. I was told that "DRINGOS" (translation of ringback tones in french) will never be a blockbuster because MNO's are holding the market. How can we make money with dringos / ringback tones ???
I went to 3GSM congress in Cannes. I was told that "DRINGOS" (translation of ringback tones in french) will never be a blockbuster because MNO's are holding the market. How can we make money with dringos / ringback tones ???