The Muppets back soon - on your cell phone

Kermit, Miss Piggy and friends will be re-launched back into society in every way possible - on the big screen, small screen, mobile phones, theatres and theme parks. [via the scotsman].

"The first new glimpse of the gang will come in the form of The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz - a feature length film starring Quentin Tarantino as himself, singer Ashanti and actress Queen Latifah.

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this week and will be shown in the UK later this year."

Golf. Mobile Moans

Ernie Els last night called on golf chiefs to ban cameras and mobile phones at all major tournaments, reports The Daily Record.

"The world's No.3 golfer snapped after being tormented by the sound of ring tones and clicking cameras throughout his second round of the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai.

The South African was put off on many occasions including the sixth tee where a ringing mobile phone forced him to back away from his drive."

Dwango Wireless Gets Spiritual with Ringtones

Multi-faith media company Beliefnet.com has called on Dwango Wireless to enable the delivery of a suite of spiritual-theme wireless content, reports Wireless Week.

"Dwango has agreed to develop ringtones, images and games under the Beliefnet mobile brand. Wireless content will be available for purchase at mobile.beliefnet.com. The multi-faith content will span Christian, popular, inspirational and world music."

Related:

-- Christian Ringtones - "Young Christians in the UK are buying polyphonic ringtones of their favourite Christian artists as religious rock takes up modern technology".

-- Divine Calling - A mobile ringtone service offering top hits of the contemporary Christian music, gospel and worship genre.

-- Ave Maria ringtone - To inspire users into contemplation, the Roman Catholic church in Holland offers religious ringtones. Users can select from 15 different ringtone-hymns, including Ave Maria and Salve Regina.

Levi's MAX Ringtone Composing Competition

Levi's Europe are running a mobile music competition where you get to compose and mix your own RingTunes, using the Levi's® Mobile Audio MiXer (MAX), according to Skiddle.

"MAX is a mobile application that turns your phone into a Mini-Studio. It's free to download from the Levi's WAP site on your mobile phone - just type 'eu.levi.com/max' into your phone's WAP browser.

All entries are being judged by a diverse panel of music industry professionals, from A&R folk to producers and artists.

The competition runs until June 2nd. Go to www.eu.levi.com/index, download MAX to your phone, compose a RingTune with it, and upload your creative efforts to the site to enter.

The panel will rate and comment on their favourite tunes. These comments will be placed on the website so that all the budding musicians out there can benefit from the judge's insights.

As a final twist, the winning RingTune will then be taken into a studio, re-mastered by producer outfit Atlantic Conveyor, and pressed onto vinyl as a prize for the creator.

This hybrid RingTune will then also be available for download from eu.levi.com as an MP3 or AAC file, along with the original RingTune.

Related campaigns:

-- Ringtones in Levi's Fall (2004) Marketing Campaign

-- Gap ad campaign offers soundtrack and ringtone

Ringback tones in China From 1m to 40m in a year

Interesting feedback on the success of ringback tones in China, according to China Daily.

Lu Xiangdong, deputy general manager of China Mobile, said its subscriber base for ringback tone services grew from 1 million at the beginning of 2004 to more than 40 million by the end of the year.

MTV in duet with China Mobile

MTV Networks yesterday formed an alliance with the world's biggest wireless telecoms operator China Mobile, giving birth to potentially the biggest revenue pool in China for the cable TV arm of the global media giant Viacom, according to China Daily.

"From May 1, MTV and China Mobile will launch MTV Zone on the network of the top telecoms operator, which has more than 220 million subscribers and acquires 3 million new users every month.

China Mobile's subscribers will be able to download music ringtones and ringback tones, or watch entertainment news and clips of popular songs, provided by MTV."

Ipod Meets Its Match in 'Mobile Jukebox'

The ubiquitous iPod music player may have finally met its match – the musical mobile, writes The Scotsman.

"Phone giant Nokia today unveiled a new “jukebox” handset which aims to take on Apple's multi-million selling pocket-sized music system.

The N91 mobile will store 3,000 songs and allow users to download new tracks on the move through wireless internet technology.

Consumer technology expert Adam Vaughan, managing editor of Stuff magazine, said: “This is definitely the beginning of the end for the iPod.

Nokia said the new phone would cost about £475 and take an industry standard 3.5mm stereo headset jack, meaning users can plug in any type of headphones.

It will also allow buyers to transfer music files from their PC or download them from specialist websites.

Jonas Geust, Music at Nokia vice president, said: “What sets the Nokia N91 apart is the fact that it is always connected – you can download new music while on the move, add it to your favourite playlist and then share your playlist with friends. It's truly the world's best mobile-connected jukebox.”

Nokia said the N91 phone was expected to be in shops by the end of the year.

Picture from Engadget.

Gap ad campaign offers soundtrack and ringtone

File under a ringtone marketing first.

Gap's advertising campaign featuring teen singing sensation Joss Stone kicks off on Thursday with her version of the Lew Herman classic 'The Right Time' offered as the soundtrack for the ad and as a free download for Gap customers, reports Brand Republic.

"Gap shoppers will be able to dowload the track for free in exchange for their email addresses.

Store receipts and ads will alert shoppers to the website by carrying the message "Get the song at Gap.com".

Cingular subscribers will be offered a ringtone of Stone's recording for a two-week period of exclusivity through the wireless company's Cingular Sounds pre-release spotlight programme."

Old-Time Radio Show Ringtones

MediaBay and dotPhoto,today announced they have entered into an agreement to offer content from MediaBay's extensive classic radio show library through dotPhoto's Ringtalker ringtone service. [Press release]

Mobile users will be able to select ringtone audio clips from MediaBay's library of more than 50,000 hours of classic old-time radio programs, including Abbott & Costello, The Jack Benny Show, Dimension X, Duffy's Tavern, The Great Gildersleeve, Lights Out and Sorry, wrong number.

Ringtalker will begin to offer MediaBay radio content starting on April 28, 2005 at Radiospirits.

This is NOT my era, I'm not that old, but these ringtones are wonderful! Click here for my favorite, Bob Hope's "Thank you for the memories".

First Dibs' on Ringtones from Faith Evans's Chart-Topping Album

Thanks to a new mobile content agreement from Virgin Mobile USA and EMI Music, the two companies today announced the next wave of Virgin Mobile's popular "First Dibs" program, giving customers exclusive access to ringtones from Faith Evans album The First Lady.

Starting today, Virgin Mobile customers will be the only ones in the U.S. with access to Superphonic (a.k.a., real music) ringtones based on three tracks from multiple Grammy® winner Faith Evans's latest album: "Again," "Goin' Out" and "Tru Love." [Press release].

Sony BMG, Warner in music publishing rights deal

Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner/Chappell Music, a division of Warner Music Group, announced a new licensing agreement today for music publishing rights, reports New York Business.

"The deal will help speed up Sony BMG's roll out of digital music products and services such as master ring tones and ring back tones on mobile phones, as well as digital video distribution.

Warner/Chappell holds the rights to more than one million songs, including "Happy Birthday."

Teenage violin virtuoso to launch ringtones

Nicola Benedetti, the teenage violin virtuoso from Ayrshire, is to launch a range of mobile phone ringtones to tap into the youth market, reports the Times Online.

Samples from three tracks on Benedetti's new album — Havanaise by Camille Saint-Saëns, Méditation by Jules Massenet and Contemplation by Johannes Brahms — have been sampled for the ringtones, which will cost between £2 ($3.80) and £3.50 ($6.70) to download.

Her recording company expects to sell thousands of the samples.

Classical ringtones are becoming increasingly popular. In February, the London Symphony Orchestra, which performed on Benedetti's, became the first classical ensemble to record a range of ringtones, from which it hopes to make £20,000 a year.

Julian de Ste Croix, acting chief executive of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, added: “Nicola is just the right person to help take classical music to a younger audience and the fact that she is launching a range of ringtones can only be beneficial.”

Related:

-- Missed the concert? Get the ring tone - The London Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1904, has become the first orchestra to record and sell ringtones,

-- The Royal Opera of London offers ringtones Themed around particular operas and ballets. Along with a text messaging campaign, the Royal Opera aims to broaden the appeal of opera and ballet and attract younger people.

Coca-Cola vending machines to make Coke noises

I think I've come up with a sound that has NOT been made into a ringtone and which might soon become very popular. The sound of a Coke being poured.

Why? because HyperSonic Sound is inventor Woody Norris' latest creation and it will be applied to coke machines. Agenda Inc. reports:

"Thousands of soda machines in Tokyo will soon bombard passersby with the enticing sound of a Coke being poured.

Unlike traditional speakers, which scatter sound, Norris' device streams it in a precise, laser-like beam for up to 150 yards with almost no degradation in quality or volume".

Eventually HyperSonic Sound might enable a nightclub to play disco on one side of the dance floor and salsa on the other. Ambulances equipped with hypersonic sirens could clear the streets without waking the neighbors. Norris' company, American Technology, sells the devices for $600."

Ringtones: a rap using fart sounds

Here's the link to the origin of the rappers fart ringtone story on Ringtonia, written up last week, from mobuzzTV.com, a mobile entertainment channel providing "daily visual snacks to an increasingly mobile and content-curious generation" and my new favorite source for tech news and entertainment. It's fast, it's fun, it's cheeky, it's irreverant. It's fabulous. Bookmark!

Emma Rebaldi - Excerpt :

"Our obsession with ringtones knows no bounds, but the latest has generated, or rather degenerated into the fart rap. What's that I hear you cry? Well basically, a load of guys letting off to a hit hop groove. Nice work if you can get it. Pffzt". For full video, watch this mobizode.

The Bravery Don't Like 'Ringtone Bands'

The Bravery frontman Sam Endicott has launched a scathing attack at boring 'ringtone' music, saying that he would rather his band be "passionately hated" than be quickly forgotten as a ringtone band, reports Stereoboard.

"The band, reknowned for the slanging match with fellow US indie favourites The Killers, seem to be provoking a continuation to their public feud".

Ringtones: Past, Present and Future Volume 2

Research and Markets has announced the addition of Ringtones: Past, Present and Future Volume 2 to their offering, according to an online Press release.

It is a time change for the ringtone industry. The replacement of polyphonic ringtones with real music ringtones amounts to far more than a format replacement cycle: because record labels have now arrived in the market, the very structure and operation of the ringtone industry is seeing dramatic change.

Presented in two separate volumes, this report is focussed on identifying and analysing the key forces that will shape the new ringtone industry and define the winners and losers

For more information visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c16228

Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Research and Markets
press@researchandmarkets.com
Fax: +353 1 4100 980

bitfilm Festival 05

The bitFilm Festival 05 (Hamburg) is looking for ringvideo submissions. First prize is euro 1'500 ($1'900.)

In their own words:

Why use just an acustic ringtone when your mobile has a colour screen to show videos?

Animated ringvideos will be the next big thing on the mobile market. You can prove that it is possible to create animated ringvideos that don't get on our nerves! They should work as a loop and have a length of about 5 seconds.

The audience decides about the 1500 Euro prize.

For preview we accept 3gp-, Quicktime- or .swf-files with a size of 176 x 144 pixels.

There is no submission fee. Deadline is July 1st 2005.

Motorola Exec Confirms iTunes Phone is Coming

Motorola CEO Ed Zander confirmed that his company would be releasing the long-awaited iTunes-compatible mobile phone in the next few months - in a conference call with analysts Wednesday, reports The Mac Observer.

Related articles:

-- Verizon and Sprint say no to the iTunes phone

-- The iTunes mobile going nowhere

-- Carriers hold back release of Motorola's iTunes cell phone

-- Motorola Says It Is Working on More iTunes Phones

-- Motorola's New iTunes Phones Announced This Thursday

-- Motorola Previews iTunes Phone

-- iTunes on Motorola phones in January?

-- Apple's rumoured iPhone

-- Apple showing off a cellphone prototype?

Xingtone offers mStore solution

Xingtone, a leader in off-carrier mobile content distribution, announced today its Xingtone mStore solution, a turnkey e-commerce solution for independent content owners to market, sell and deliver real-music ringtones from their website directly to fans at the click of a button.

Until now, only best selling artists' ringtones have been available through the largest carriers. [via e-mail press release]

For more information, contact:
Melody Parrette/Leasa Ireland
LPI Communications for Xingtone
858.793.1079 or 310.796.1936
melody@lpicommunications.com

Cingular Wireless' Star Wars Extravaganza

Cingular Wireless will join thousands of die-hard Star Wars fans who are gathering in Indianapolis to attend the Star Wars Celebration III - a four-day convention produced by Lucasfilm and Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club.

Celebration III, which kicks off April 21, is designed to celebrate the complete Star Wars saga and the much anticipated final installment, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, which opens May 19, 2005.

Cingular is offering Star Wars downloadable content such as music tones, voice tones of movie quotes, sound effect tones, mobile games, animated screensavers, colorful wallpaper graphics and MMS greeting cards."

Press Release

Anti-drug ringtones

The White House National Drug Control Policy's anti-drug website, Freevibe, is offering drug free ringtones. [via Engadget]

LOADED? NO WAY! Get downloaded

Send this page to your friends so your whole crew can download a Freevibe ringtone and support each other to stay drug-free with every call.

Denzel Washington May Use 'Verse' if Phones Ring

Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington, who is playing Brutus in the Broadway revival of "Julius Caesar," as come up with a new defense against pesky ringing cell phones during live performances: hiambic pentameter.

"Washington told CBS's "60 Minutes Wednesday" that "one of these days I'm going to respond in iambic pentameter: `Answereth that, my lord. My lord, it is for you."

[Associated Press]

Verizon and Sprint say no to the iTunes phone

BusinessWeek via Engadget is reporting that both Sprint and Verizon Wireless have already said no to Motorola's iTunes phone.

"Rumors about tension between the carriers and Motorola and Apple have been running rampant ever since Moto scrapped the handset's unveiling last month, and it looks like the carriers, which are introducing their own wireless music download services later this year (BusinessWeek reports that Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint all have them in the works), are playing hardball now".

Cell phone concert craze

Concertgoers aren't pulling out their phones to chat during shows. Instead, they're pointing them away from their ears and toward the stage, as they did at a recent stop on U2's Vertigo 2005 tour.
Newsday reports.

"According to one review, as the band launched into the hit ballad "One," the stadium filled with the soft blue glow of the phones' displays. Bono urged the crowd, with the help of video displays, to text message for information from the One Campaign to raise awareness about global poverty and AIDS.

The phenomenon was repeated last Wednesday at Madison Square Garden as Simon LeBon, front man for '80s pop group Duran Duran, urged the crowd to take out cell phones and lighters before launching into "Save a Prayer."

"It makes it look like the stars at night," LeBon said of the glow. "And it makes you all look so much more beautiful."

Tom Ryan, senior vice president of mobile and digital development at EMI music, explained why people take out their phones even when Bono and LeBon aren't telling them to.

"The phone in general is being used as a method of sharing the unique [concert] experience," he said.

For instance, Ryan said someone at a Coldplay show could call a friend, let the friend hear a song, and then snap a shot of the band and message them the picture.

That's not the only reason phones are being thrust into the air, though. In a dark concert hall or arena, he said, the display screen on a cell phone creates a glow like a lighter, "especially when 20,000 people are holding them up."

Related articles:

-- U2's concert in San Jose integrates cell phones and SMS

-- Mobile phones are the new lighters

-- Why Cell Phones Have Killed The Concert Lighter

ThumbPlay.com Seeks Global Content Partners

ThumbPlay, a leader in the delivery of wireless content to a wide variety of networks and devices, today announced that it is currently seeking global content partners that wish to sell their content in the U.S. market for its portal, ThumbPlay.com.

ThumbPlay.com will be the largest U.S.-based wireless mobile entertainment portal and will offer consumers a faster, easier way to order ringtones, images, and games directly to their phones without having to use a credit card.

ThumbPlay.com works across most U.S. carriers and all handset models. ThumbPlay will complete selection of content partners from Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa by April 30, 2005.

Interested ThumbPlay.com global content partners must complete their submissions to ThumbPlay by 5:00 pm GMT (send to info@thumbplay.com) on Saturday, April 30, 2005 in order to be considered.

[Press Release]

Verizon and Universal Music Group offer Ringback tones

Verizon Wireless announced it has entered into an agreement with Universal Music Group, to bring new Ringback Tones from the company's extensive catalog of chart-topping artists to Verizon Wireless Ringback Tone customers.

With an extensive collection of 500 hot Ringback Tones, Universal Music Group is the newest resource for Verizon Wireless customers looking for the perfect Ringback Tone to replace the standard ring callers hear while they wait for their call to be answered.

Verizon Wireless became the first national carrier to offer Ringback Tones when it introduced the service in Southern California and Sacramento last year. [via
Press release]

The fake phone call etiquette

In this trend revealing article by Amy Harmon for the NY Times, where she describes how and why people fake talking on their cellphone in public places (blogged about more extensively in Textually), some interesting tidbits on doing it the right way - and not getting caught as a cellphony:

"-- To pretend a call is coming in, press the speakerphone button to make a ringing sound. And make sure you turn the phone off to prevent your cover from being blown. Or at least set it to vibrate. (That is a lesson Scott Spector, 15, learned the hard way, when his phone started blasting his "American Idol Theme" ring tone as he was pretending to talk into it in the hall at school last month.)"

-- To show off a ringtone, program a cell phone to call at a certain time".

'Visual radio' headed for U.S. cell phones

"Visual Radio" is coming to the United States--and no, that's not just a newfangled name for a TV set, reports News.com.

"Radio giant Infinity Broadcasting is working with Hewlett-Packard to bring a kind of Net-enabled FM radio to U.S. markets, sending information such as album art, concert dates and buy-this-album buttons alongside broadcasts.

The broadcasts will be aimed at a new generation of FM radio-enabled phones, as well as the digital information carried over cellular phone carriers' airwaves, rather than on the one-way FM broadcasts.

The companies hope to turn the service into a new advertising and revenue source for traditional radio, which is facing increasing competition from satellite radio and Internet Webcasts.

Once digitized, the radio stations will be able to include browsable data more directly alongside songs, instead of resorting to the phone carrier networks to transmit these services.

The visual radio concept is already operating commercially in Finland, and is being tested in several other markets including England and Germany. "

Samsung Debuts A Phone Generating Alpha Waves

What will Samsung come up with next? Their new music cameraphone, the SCH-S350, enhances memory and concentration. How cool is that?

"Samsung claims that alpha waves, known to improve memory and concentration, are generated when the phone plays functional music".

The handset includes an MP3 player, 300K pixel digital camera and GPS.

via Telecoms Korea.

What comes to mind:

-- The breast enlarging ringtone - A member of the Aum Shinrikyo cult in Japan sells a ringtone that claims to make your breasts grow larger by listening to it.

Motorola Set to Unveil iRadio for Cell Phones

Motorola is set to unveil a service called iRadio that will let users download preselected audio content from a range of providers on their home computers, download it on their cell phones and listen to it on their car stereos, reports The New York Times.

"The iRadio service, which will let customers download 10 hours of content at a time, will be available at the subscription cost of about $5 to $7 a month. When not driving, customers can listen to content on a phone with a headset.access to more than 100 channels."