Mobile Phones: Ring Tones with Personality
By Michele Blandino
There was a time when telephones weren’t very complicated. But, with the advent of cellular telephones and the increasingly intricate technology that makes them work, telephones have evolved from simply being a mode of communication to a highly personalized convenience.
One of the most popular ways in which consumers like to personalize their cellular telephones is through the ring tone. In many ways, this makes sense. With so many people carrying cell phones these days, it is often hard to distinguish the ring of one telephone from another. Adding a unique ring tone helps to eliminate this confusion.
Point, Click and Ring
As would be expected, there is no shortage of online merchants from which ring tone can be purchased. Some of the more popular – and reputable – ones are listed as the end of this article. But, before you begin navigating your way around in search of just the right sound, there are a few things you need to know.
Different Types of Sounds
Unfortunately, choosing a ring tone isn’t as simple as merely choosing from a list. As you make your selection, you need to decide whether you want a monophonic tone, a polyphonic tone or real tones.
As the name implies, monophonic ring tones are tones that are played one note at a time; think one handed piano playing. Conversely, polyphonic tones utilize several notes at once, which allows the sound to take on a more realistic quality. Finally, real tones are actual recordings of real sounds and can include anything from bodily noises to sounds make by zoo animals.
Know Before You Buy
It is important to know that not all ring tones are compatible with all telephones. As a result, it is important that you purchase from a merchant that has some sort of mechanism for determining whether or not your particular telephone is compatible with the ring you wish to purchase. Most merchants accomplish this using a drop-box from which you select your country of residence and cellular telephone make and model.
Why Bother?
Why do people go through the trouble of downloading ring tones when their cell phone probably came equipped with an arsenal of tones to choose from? The answer is that choosing a unique ring tones is inexpensive, they are easy to purchase and it just downright fun. While prices vary, you can obtain most ring tones for between $1 and $3 each. And, once you purchase the tone, you can keep it stored in your telephone indefinitely. Because the tones are easy to obtain, many people switch their tones on a regular basis to keep pace with the change of season, holidays and other events.
