Ringtones call the tune in hardware

Ringtones are driving future hardware developments in mobile phones while users continue to demand increasingly complex personalisation options, reports Australian IT.

"Ringtones retain the top spot in mobile content downloads, followed by wallpapers, logos and games. News and information bring up the rear, with weather reports rising in popularity.

True Tones to take off over Christmas, with the release of low-cost handsets that support the technology. Until then, polyphonic tones will remain the most sophisticated. "We find the top 10 downloads reflect the top 10 music charts quite closely," Christie says.

While the main carriers are waiting for True Tones to further excite the market, third-generation network carrier 3 says True Tones are old-hat.

"3 launched technology superior to True Tones in September, with the arrival of Real Tones," 3 stakeholder relations director Steve Wright says.

Real Tones offer more choice, and better sound reproduction, he says.

Also, 3 is working on a technology called Caller Tones, which let a caller hear anything from music to impersonators while waiting for an answer.

emily | 3:25 PM | News, Buzz |
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