July 11, 2004
Ringback Tone Terminology
Along the lines of "Let's Get This Straight!", trying to make sense of ringtone terminology, here's another attempt, this time tracking the various terms used by different countries referring to ring back tones.
A ringback tone allows the mobile user to personalize the ringing sound that your caller hears when dialling your cell phone number.
-- Korea: Ringback tones, called COLOR Ring, were pioneered by SK Telecom. They launched in April 2002.
-- China: Shanghai Mobile announced the launch of a Rungback Service in August 2003 - Please note, this is probably not the real terminology, but just a translation of ringback tone service from Chinese into English (to rungback instead of ringback).
-- Japan: NTT DoCoMo launched a ring back tone service called iMode Melody Call, in September 2003.
-- USA: NMS Communications and Cellus USA, launched a ringback service, MyCaller, in October 2003.
-- Europe: T-Mobile was the first network in Europe to launch ringback tones in December 2003. It is variously called Ring-Tone Replacement or a Ring-Back Tone Service, but T-Mobile have decided to name it Caller Tunes.
-- India: Indian BPL Mobile, launched a Caller Ring Back Tone service in Mumbai, in June 2004.
-- Brunei: launched a ring back tone service, called WondeRing, in July 2004.
For links to articles on Ringback tones, check out this category in Ringtonia.com.
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2004/07/004493.htm