O TELEPHONE

O Telephone is an 8 channel sound installation developed by Berlin-based Canadian artist Don Ritter.

Six modified 1960’s telephones within a darkened room randomly ring with a distinctive sound. After a ringing phone is answered by a viewer, “om” is heard through the handset and through the speaker in the body of the phone.

When viewers answer other ringing phones, the resulting “om” sounds will pan through all the answered phones. The telephones will eventually begin a composition comprised of the ringing and “om” sounds if they are not answered by viewers.

Review by Régine on we-make-money-not-art.com

Ringtone choices in Washington

A delightful article by Mike Musgrove in The Washington Post on how for the most part officials in Washington avoid ringtones.

"Please," offered political-thriller novelist Brad Meltzer by e-mail. "Only a fool isn't on vibrate at all times. Especially in D.C."

Musgrove conducted "a highly unscientific survey over the past few weeks and found that while image-conscious politicians generally follow Meltzer's line of thinking, plenty of other prominent Washingtonians do not.

... In lobbying circles, the chairman and chief executive of the Recording Industry Association of America, Mitch Bainwol, has a song by "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry: "It's Not Over."

... In the sports world, Nationals Manager Manny Acta has the "Law & Order" theme -- he's a fan of the show.

As it turns out, chefs are big ringtones customers -- they have to stay in regular contact with their distributors, and having an unusual ringer helps them avoid wasting time by fumbling around for their phone every time."

Ringtones Not Ringing The Register

U.S. ringtone sales have steadily increased every year since 2003, but this year Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) is predicting that the ringtone market will see a decline. Their estimate is that sales for 2007 will be $550 million, down $50 million from 2006. WebPro News reports.

"According to BMI, ringtone sales for 2006 were $600 million; $500 million in 2005; $245 million in 2004; and $68 million in 2003.

For the first time, BMI has released a U.S. ringback market estimate. A ringback tone is a music piece that a caller hears when they call another mobile phone. They estimate that for 2007 ringbacks will generate $65 million in revenue."

Beautfiul mobile song

Mother's day is coming up first, but this a beautiful song for cell phones for Father's day called the The little girl song, it's sung by international recording artist E. Walter Smith in duet with American Idol contestant Tatiana McConnico.

My song (duet), "Little Girl," recorded with teen diva and American Idol contestant Tatiana McConnico, celebrates that magical relationship between a father and his "little girl."

They're looking for a wireless company to promote their release on cell phones. If anyone's listening, contact them at e-at-ewaltersmith-dot-com.

T-Pain Dominates Ringtone Charts

This week T-Pain's "Buy U A Drank beats out artists such as MIMS, AKON, Avril, and Beyonce as the #1 ringtone on the Billboard Hot RingMasters chart for the 2nd week in a row.

The ringtone sold 182K this past week alone and has sold nearly 800K ringtones to date.

[via SoundSlam]

Advertising Complaint Against Nokia Rejected

Nokia wins lawsuit - The Nokia 5300's claim that it has CD quality sound has been confirmed, as users can't distinguish a real CD from the quality of music it plays. Cellular News reports.

"... The UK's Advertising Standards Authority said that while it noted the complainant believed the claim "CD quality sound" was misleading, because compressed music files were not the same quality as music files on CD, which had a bit rate of 1411 kbps.

However, they also noted the ISO report had found that listeners had been unable to distinguish between compressed AAC files encoded at 128kbps and CD sound. The test results showed that AAC encoding at 128kbps was indistinguishable from CD sound.

The ASA says that it considered that readers would interpret the claim "CD quality sound" to mean that when they listened to files played on the Nokia XpressMusic the sound would be indistinguishable from CD sound, and that Nokia had substantiated the claim "CD quality sound" and it was unlikely to mislead. "

SoundofMotion keeps cyclists safe, morphs phone into motorcycle

Ringtones take a new twist thanks to SoundofMotion.com, a new sound tone that turns your phone into a roaring motorcycle, able to rev up and down based on the speed and acceleration of your bicycle.

The application will run on "any Bluetooth- and Java-capable phone," and it interacts with a "wireless BT sensor" that gets mounted on one of your wheels.

[via Engadgetmobile]

Napster going over the air in Japan

According to the AFP, online music retailer Napster will shortly launch an over-the-air music subscription service in Japan, through NTT DoCoMo.

"Napster Japan, a joint venture between the company and Tower Records Japan, said in a statement on its website that it would be the first deployment of Napster's over-the-air music subscription service.

The service will provide DoCoMo's iMode subscribers with wireless access to Napsters vast collection of songs which has been already available to users of its "Napster to Go" service through personal computers."

Bob Marley album to be released on USB Memory Stick and Micro SD Memory Card

Island Records are to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley ’s ‘Exodus ’ by releasing it on two pioneering new formats; on USB Memory Stick and Micro SD Memory Card. Uncut reports.

"The USB memory stick version will be limited to 4000 copies, produced in the Rastafarian colours of red, green and gold. It also contains three video tracks recorded at London’s Rainbow Theatre in June 1977.

The Micro SD Memory Card will also be made as a limited edition collectors’ item of 2000 copies. The Micro SD is a small, removable flash memory card – the size of a fingernail – that can be used in mobile phones, portable audio players and PCs.

Other releases on memory cards:

-- A record released on a USB memory stick - Rock band Keane will be the first act to release a record on USB memory sticks, their record label says. (2006)

-- Robbie Williams becomes first artist to launch greatest hits album on memory card - EMI Music UK has agreed a deal with The Carphone Warehouse which will make Robbie Williams the first artist ever to release an entire album plus video content on a Memory Card. (2004)

Cell phones rang on the scene of the shotting

The cell phones in the pockets of Virginia Tech's dead students were still ringing when we were told that it was wrong to ask why. As the police cleared the bodies from the Virginia Tech engineering building, the cell phones rang, in the eccentric varieties of ring tones, as parents kept trying to see if their children were O.K. To imagine the feelings of the police as they carried the bodies and heard the ringing is heartrending; to imagine the feelings of the parents who were calling—dread, desperate hope for a sudden answer and the bliss of reassurance, dawning grief—is unbearable.

But the parents, and the rest of us, were told that it was not the right moment to ask how the shooting had happened—specifically, why an obviously disturbed student, with a history of mental illness, was able to buy guns whose essential purpose is to kill people—and why it happens over and over again in America.

By Adam Gopnik for The New Yorker via disinfo.com

72 million ringtones purchased in 2007 so far

So far this year, more than 72 million ringtones have been purchased by mobile phone users, according to Nielsen RingScan, which began tracking the sector last fall. [via The Olympian]

Push Ringer Lets Caller Override Your Ringtone

Los Angeles based Emotive Communications, lets cell phone callers override the ringtones of the people they call with one of their own choosing. The Raw Feed reports.

Called a "push ringer," the ringtone can include both audio and video, which the person being called can buy with a click of a button -- it makes ringtones viral.

... According to Mobile Tech News, "the product has already gained significant traction with consumers. Since its launch on Skype's VOIP network in 2006, Push Ringer (known to Skype users as "Ringjacker") has been installed more than 800,000 times and is demonstrating significant peer to peer pass-along rates. "

Related article with link to press release in Voxilla.

Alarm Clock Downloads Music From Cell Phone

This alarm clock by Citizen, communicates with any Japanese cell phone via IR to download songs purchased on the mobile site mupass. It can store up to 5 songs.

[via Tokyomango]

Beyond Ringtones? Flycell Takes a Shot

Flycell today announced a deal with Universal Music Group to provide MP3-quality ringtones from Akon and other artists, reports Wired blog.

But Flycell, a major ringtone vendor, is looking to expand its reach beyond an arena crowded with competitors ranging from Yahoo and MTV.com to smaller outfits including FreeRingers.net, Jamster, Zingy, Modtones, Dada Mobile and Thumbplay.

The new initiative, tagged Flycell 2.0, targets the 14 to 25 demographic.

"This is a natural evolution for us," CEO Alberto Montesisaid. "Ringtone is still going to be a big chunk of our business but now, or example, when you buy a 'Truetone,' then you're going to have also attached to the ringtone a full track download for your computer or your Ipod. It's going to be very interesing for us to see how that develops."

Despite revenue slump, RIAA still not getting the big picture

The RIAA has released its 2006 year-end shipment statistics, and they tell a familiar tale. Shipments of physical media such as CDs continue their decline while the number of downloads continues to soar. Overall revenues continue their slide, as revenues from the increased number of digital sales failed to make up for falling CD sales. ars technica reports.

... "Digital sales—which include downloads, kiosks, ringtones, subscriptions, and music videos—continue to be a success story for the music industry. The RIAA reported a 27.6 percent increase in digital sales versus 2005, and when mobile sales (e.g., ringtones and direct-to-phone downloads) are taken out of the picture, unit sales jumped 63.2 percent. It's a significant drop from last year's 166.2 percent year-over-year growth, but still something the industry should be pleased with.

... Unfortunately, it appears that the music industry is still having trouble grasping the scope of the challenges it faces. Retailers and legal services will always have to compete with piracy, and no amount of file-sharing litigation is going to change it."

Read more.

Looking for mobile music projects

Today, 16th April 2007, is the final deadline to submit papers, posters and demo for the Mobile Music Workshop to be held on May 6-8 in Amsterdam.

The series of annual workshops explore how devices such as mobile phones or mp3 players, combined with ad hoc networking, Internet connection, and context-awareness, mobile music technology can give rise to new artistic, commercial and socio-cultural opportunities for music creation, listening and sharing.

[reBlogged from we-make-money-not-art.com]

Music phones take off faster than the iPod

According to a report in the The Times Online via Mad4Mobile Phones, music phones such as the Sony Ericsson Walkman series are selling at a faster rate than the iPod did in its first few years.

"Apple last week sold their 100 millionth iPod but from 2001 to 2004 they only achieved sales of 4 million units. It wasn't until the iPod Mini was released that sales really took off.

Sony Ericsson are announcing sales figures this week and will report sales of 17million Walkman phones last year, and a total of more than 20 million since they were first introduced just over 18 months ago. "

According to the report, Nokia are developing an iTunes style music store:

"Nokia's research suggests that 60% of customers now use their phone's music-playing capabilities. Mark Squires, at Nokia UK, said the big change had been digital storage capacity. "We've now got 2GB [gigabyte] memory cards for £15," he said. "Most people can quite happily store most of their music in a couple of gigs [of storage]. Phones have grown to be able to hold your music library, and before they couldn't."

... Nokia is trying to make it easier for customers to work with their existing library of digital music. In the next two or three months it will also challenge iTunes with the launch its own online music store, building on last year's $60m acquisition of Loudeye, a digital music specialist."

Focuson The DJ Brings Mix Shows to Mobile Phones

Music fans across the country no longer have to wait to hear the hottest DJs in the club or on a mix tape. Now, they can hear their favorite mix masters 24/7 on their mobile phones courtesy of the first-ever syndicated mix show channel, Focuson the DJ HipHop Press reports.

"The streaming channel is now available to Sprint and U.S. Cellular customers via Sprint Radio and Digital Radio, respectively. Additional wireless carriers are expected to join the network in the coming months.

... Focuson the DJ currently has approximately 100,000 subscribers tuning in but with the millions of cell phone users in the U.S. and an estimated one billion users in the world, the channel's expansion opportunities are limitless. "

Why doesn't the RIAA talk about the $9 billion USD in ringtone sales?

Zeropaid writes "The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) reported that worldwide music industry sales were about $20 billion in 2006, down from $21 billion in 2005.

But, what's odd, that seems strangely removed from the argument is the profits made from ringtones sales. Gartner Research research claims $9 billion in worldwide ringtone sales while the IFPI claims about $1 billion

Even if you take a leap of faith and say Gartner's claims must be false and say 50% of the figure is accurate, that's more than enough BILLIONS to cover the supposed $1 billion USD they lost last year. Furthermore, they're making cash on what is truly an inferior product to say the least."

Weeds theme song "Little Boxes" for your mobile phone

If you're a Weeds fan, you can download the TV's shows theme song Little Boxes" here.

Mosquitone integrated in KFC commercial

According to MocoNews, KFC has struck a cross-branding partnership with Compound Security Systems, to integrate their famous Mosquitotone (which emits a high level frequencey sound only audible to the under 20 crowd) in their latest TV commercial.

"Those who manage to hear it (only youngsters), can hit KFC.com and enter the sound’s precise location to win meal vouchers."

Related:

-- New Movie "The Messengers" includes ringing only teens can hear - Sony Pictures has included the ultrasonic ringtone -- only audible to teenagers but not adults -- as a featured aspect of the film's promotional campaign, which is geared toward a teen audience.

- Links to Mosquitotone articles

AviationRingTones

Sounds from the cockpit or AviationRingTones. [via BlogsPCworld.com]

You will find that it contains some of the most unique and authentic aviation themed ringtones to be used on a phone. These are actual aural warning alerts heard in the cockpits that I (as a pilot) have access to in my line of work. They are rarely if ever heard in public.

Easter Break

Off to Naples for a holiday break, back on Wednesday April 11. Happy Easter to one and all.

Sony BMG pushes mobile media in China

Sony BMG Music Entertainment has struck a deal with content aggregator Global Music International to distribute the company's music videos, full track songs and ringtones to mobile subscribers in China. news.com reports.

"Global Music will be distributing the Sony content through China Unicom, allowing subscribers to buy and download songs, music videos and ringtones onto their handsets."

Damon Albarn releases EMI's first DRM-free album

Former Blur member Damon Albarn's latest music project is the first EMI album to be released without copy protection. Vnunet reports.

Kingdom of Doom, by The Good, The Bad & The Queen, is available to download as 256Kbps MP3 files.

EMI said that the unlocked files give fans the option of choosing to play the music across a range of devices and platforms, including digital music players, mobile phones and home music systems.

Hop-On to sabotage phone market with patent?

Cellphone designer Hop-On may create trouble for the music phone industry, according to a patent the company has received today, reports electronista.

"The company said it had been granted a patent that covered MP3 phones with speakers on the sides as well as control buttons -- effectively applying the patent to virtually every flip-phone with music abilities released in the US over recent years."

Read more.

Nokia and EMI Music announce global marketing and content agreement

Nokia and EMI Music, have announced a marketing and content agreement in which EMI artists, beginning Lily Allen and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. The artists will be featured in Nokia's Flagship Store locations worldwide, as well as Nokia's Experience Centers, theater locations and certain Nokia music-related websites across North America. [Press release via The Cell Freak]

EMI will be the exclusive major label provider of music content for the retail program, and new content from its artists will be added and featured every 60 days.

For instance, if you want to see how video looks on a Nokia N95, the sales person might show you Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’ “Face Down” music video. Or to lure you into buying more Nokia products, they might offer a free Lily Allen ringtone.

Previously: - Join the Lily Allen mobile club

Samsung Mobile Podcasts

VoiceIndigo has announced a worldwide partnership with Samsung bringing podcasting to Samsung mobile phones.

Samsung Mobile Podcasts by VoiceIndigo will be pre-loaded on Samsung mobile phones. The first model has already begun shipping on the innovative Samsung UpStage, Music-centric dual face phone. The Samsung UpStage is a union of slim style and function available through Sprint.

[via press release]

Telecom Italia Mobile Launches User-Generated Ringtone Site

Telecom Italia Mobile is launching a user-generated ringtone site called MyTones which will let users create and upload ringtones, where other users can stream or download them, and comment on them.

People who create popular ringtones will be rewarded with prizes such as free top-up credits. [via Moco News].

phling!

phling!is a new mobile service that lets you tune in to the music stored on your computer (PC only for the time being) from wherever you are. Cool Hunting reports.

"To use it you download applications to both your mobile phone and your PC. So long as the PC is turned on and connected to the internet you can stream your music files to your phone. phling!

... You can also see other phling! users—people who also listening to the same song as you, others online with similar taste or people fitting whatever profile you're looking for. Once you connect with other users you can also listen to their music."

Previously: - Start-up claims to offer next mobile-music thing