T-Mobile announcing CallerTunes (aka ringback tones) tomorrow

It's officially an open secret now: T-Mobile is going to announce CallerTunes, aka their version of ringback tones, tomorrow. No word on pricing or selection yet, but we'll have details for you soon.

P.S. - In case you aren't familiar with ringback tones (and believe us, you will be very sick of them soon), they're basically customized audio clips that callers hear when they dial your number instead of the usual ringing sound. The carriers like 'em because they're one more thing they can charge people for.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

[Mike Corley @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I'm a bit confused to how these work...will they only be heard by other T-Mo customers? Or only with certain models of phones? And how do the rings get sent to the other persons phone? Im assuming they must be only for the polyphonic tones and not the real voice ones, or else you would have to wait for the whole thing to download first? Man this is the stupidest idea i've heard in a while.

[Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

It sounds like what happens is that I highlight steve in my address book, push the send/call button, and see "connecting" on my phone. Instead of hearing *ring* *ring* while _I_ wait for steve to pick up, _I_ hear the latest Britney Spears song. Blech.

-p-

[Ad�ian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

I've been using ringback tones w/ my verizon service for about 3 weeks now. The reactions I get are funny; most people just hang up because they think my voicemail has picked up, when in reality it's ringing on my end.

[Sean @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

The teens will love it, the rest of the world will hate it.

Next will be businesses running ads for themselves instead of the standard ring... "Your calling Company X where we make the best product in the industry, your call is very important to us so while you wait for someone to pick up the phone let me tell you about our great product."

Like being on hold before you get put on hold.

[lmidnight @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

In case you aren�t familiar with ringback tones (and believe us, you will be very sick of them soon), they�re basically customized audio clips that callers hear when they dial your number instead of the usual ringing sound. The carriers like �em because they�re one more thing they can charge people for.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Oh yay having to hear the annoying ring tones wasn't bad enough now I get to hear it when I call them too.

[Suntiger @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Uggh, this is quite possibly worse than people using custom soundclips to play on others' computers when they use AIM. At least that can be turned off at the recieving end.
And as a teen, I will hate this. It sucks. There is nothing "cool" about it. I'm going to stop now before I start ranting.

[Christy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

You'll be able to have it say something like "this is not my voicemail, but a ring, enjoy" before it starts on the song.

I am enough of a dork that I'll probably have fun with this for a few months/weeks/until my family kills me.

[Brian Lee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

Ringback tones are old! I got used to them while I was in Korea 2 years ago. It seemed novel at first but it's just another way of spending money to make yourself look hip.
Blah~

[kofein_machine @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

We have them here in Lithuania for two months. It's weird that you don't.

[vishnu @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

what are the codes for the telugu latest songs

[ranova @ Dec 19th 2005 12:07AM]

i just signed up for callertunes. the one they give you free is crap. the song selection is horrid, although the ludacris voice is very funny, but i think the novolty will run out fast. They need some better *ring ring*s

Anyone know if you are on a family plan it applies to everyone?