December 4, 2003
Ring back tones launch in the UK December 4
T-Mobile has become the first network in Europe to let people choose the sound a caller hears while they wait for their call to be answered, reports the BBC. It is variously called "ring-tone replacement" or a "ring-back tone service", but T-Mobile have decided to name it "Caller Tunes".
"The service, which launched on 4 December, works in the same way as the one in South Korea - called COLORing - which BBC News Online reported on last week.
Launched 15 months ago there, COLORing has made SK Telecom $100 million (£59 million), with 35% of subscribers using it.
Through a licensing deal with Universal Music, T-Mobile are able to offer 100 chart hits, from boy band Busted to Gloria Gaynor".
On this T-Mobile page, you can listen to a demo.
Interesting, you hear music, but also the usual ring-ring sound in the background. Does anyone know if this is the case with South Korea's COLORing as well?
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