Facetones: See a video of your friends Facebook pictures when you call each other

According to MobileBurn, Verizon Wireless has introduced a new service for its Android customers called Facetones. Facetones is designed to blend personalized ringtones with a slideshow of images of the person calling.

Facetones integrates with social media sites to pull down images of a contact, which it will then display as a slideshow when that contact calls. Facebook is the first site that Facetones will connect to, though it seems like Verizon has plans to add more social networking sites in the future.

Read more.

NASA launches sound bite gallery for ringtones, alarms

Next time a text message pops up on your phone, have Neil Armstrong tell you about it, writes The LA Times.

NASA recently made historic sound bites available on its website to be downloaded to cellphones or computers as ringtones, alarms and notifications.

The sound files run the gamut from the familiar "Houston, we've had a problem" on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission to the other-worldly radio emissions of the planet Saturn.

To listen to and download the sound gallery, go here.

Read more.

Ghana pastor's urging a woman to repeat the word 'vagina' has gone viral as a ringtone

This is by far the strangest ringtone-gone-viral story I've heard so far. And from Ghana of all places. [via The Accra Mail]

Kumasi-based Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Opambour Adarkwa Yiadom (Prophet-One), leader of the Ebenezer Miracle Worship Center, who made headlines this summer for having a steamy affair, is in the news again.

An audio recording in which he was heard interviewing a woman on how she received slaps on her vagina anytime she went to bed has become one of the fastest spreading cell phone ringtones in town.

The said interview, recorded in a church auditorium during a church service, captured Rev. Opambour urging the hapless woman to repeat the word 'vagina' several times and he leads her to explain what her problem was.

Read full article.

Searching Google for a link to the controversial ringtone, you will be as dismayed as I to learn that there are other "vagina ringtones". Good grief.

iPhone app calls out callers name

On many phones you can set a particular ringtone for a particular person, but one iPhone app company decided to take caller recognition a step further. With app 9999 ringtones you can customise the ring tone to say the caller's name. [via ShinyShiny]

It's been done before. See related ringtones:

-- Wake-up Tones Call out your Name - Australia.mobilecontentworld.net have launched their range of wake-up name tones. Available in English, French, Germand and Norwegian.

-- Have your phone sing your first name as a ringtone - Spanish Olemovil offers TONO NOMBRES, a very personalized ringtone service, enabling your phone to sing out a little song calling your name, whenever it rings.

-- Sprint PCS gets name ringers - Sprint PCS is offering “name ringers”, a collection of ringtones made just for people with common names. (It only works for common names as they have to make the ringtones, it's not a voice synth).

Shakespeare voice tones

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Bell Shakespeare Season, the company is offering six downloadable Shakespeare ringtones - read by John Bell, Australia’s most acclaimed Artistic Director.

Talk radio show host launches ringtones

Robert "Rob" Redding Jr. of Redding News Review appears to be the first syndicated talk radio show host to officially offer ringtones of his show.

Redding, who is known as America's Independent Voice, says listeners can now download some of his most popular radio moments: "Where's my whip?", "Get off the plantation!" or "Making sure this is on!"

[via Redding News Review]

Isaac Mizrahi on Your Cell

Ever wish you could hear fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi stress the importance of style and remind you of your own mortality every time your cell phone rang.

Now you can by downloading the unofficial Mizrahi ringtone, which features Isaac at his most philosophical:

Style makes you feel great because it takes your mind off the fact that you are going to die.

[via cityfile New York]

Introducing the Bernie Madoff Ringtone

A funny piece from CityLife.

Bernie Madoff might not be able to leave his apartment, but now you can take him with you wherever you go! We're very happy to present you with the very first Bernie Madoff ringtone, which in a violation of everything Bernie holds dear, we're giving away for free.

The ringtone features a few phrases from a talk Madoff gave in 2007, set, appropriately enough, to the theme music from the horror movie Halloween.

Listen to the ringtone here.

Tina Fey/Sarah Palin voice tone anyone?

Who's going to turn (any) part of this wonderful comedy sketch into a voice tone?

US sprinter, Olympics hopeful as voice tone

A sign of things to come: Olympic hopefuls and winners voice tones.

Tyson Gay, the 25-year-old sprinter and first-time US Olympic hopeful is everywhere: his face plastered on McDonald's bags and cups; his voice available to Alltel Wireless customers as a ringtone for their mobile phones.

[via Boston Globe]

Famous Horse Racing commentaries as voicetones

Weatherbys has brought out new Horse & Hound ringtones, featuring commentaries of the nation's favourite races.

Sir Peter O'Sullevan, 90, has recorded the commentaries of household names — such as Red Rum, Shergar and Best Mate — and the proceeds will go to charity.

"When I hung up my microphone over 10 years ago, the thought of my commentaries being heard over a mobile phone would have been extraordinary," said Sir Peter.

"The ringtones give a chance to a new generation of racing enthusiasts as well as lifelong fans to hear some of our sport's most glorious moments every time their phone rings — with charity benefiting at the same time."

Obama sound quotes as ringtones

Quotes from Obama are available to download as ringtones on the mobile part of the official campaign site. They don't seem to have been updated since their launch though - which is a shame.

Poster from Ypulse.

Ringtones To Help Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

The folks over at Thumbplay have created a whole slew of ringtones to help you keep your resolutions -- or at least keep you entertained while you break them one by one.

For $2.99 per tone -- or a $9.99 monthly that gives you 20 ring tones on the spot and another 10 every month -- you can download ringers that remind you to hit the gym, quit smoking, and even tolerate calls from your mother in law.

[via switched]

Verizon sells a "Don't tase me, bro" ringback tone

A clip of Andrew Meyer politely asking the University of Florida cops to refrain from Tasing him ended up on Verzion's ringback tone web shop.

[via engadget:mobile]

Ruin someone's day today with nip/tuck personalized voice mail

Have a friend who feels bad about his or her body? Exploit that weakness to comic and/or devasting effect with the latest “Send a personalized message” from TV series nip/tuck.

You pick the part of your friend’s body that needs some work (breasts, butt, calves, ears), and doctors Sean McNamara and Christian Troy will handle the rest in a quick, traumatic phone call.

[via Adfreak]

Voxtone offers Live voiceover customizable ringtones

VoXTone have developed the first ever real live voiceover customizable ringtone.

A ringtone that speaks anything you want combined with a pre-alert sound. It’s an actual human voice that says your name, no robots or robotic sounding voices, its real people who will say your names as natural as possible professional.

The best part of it is, they are not just any real people, but rather real voiceover professionals who do voiceovers for movies, film, commercials, and more.

We will soon be also getting popular musical artists to say the first 200 orders during certain promos that will be coming up soon.

Ringtones Helping With New Year's Resolutions

Thumbplay.com, a company that offers entertainment for cellphones, has introduced New Year's motivator tones, informs USA Today.

The messages, set as the ringer, will remind you to stick to your new resolve. Attempting to stop smoking? "A man who sounds as if he's coughing to death suggests that perhaps you don't want to light up. Kicking the liquor habit? Someone who has been on the bar stool far too long slurs his words and confesses he's sick of your alcohol breath." I have no word for the "Get in Shape Cheer"!

Singtones creates a ringtone from your voice

SingTones llets people record themselves singing into their phone in time to a backing track sent by SingTones. The software then synchs the voice to the track, and sends it to the phone as a ringtone. [via Pocket-Lint]

Jerry Springer Ringtones

Jerry Springer has launched some ringtones promoted in a 20 second spot during his show and available for download online or by dialing 1.888.JERRYTV to make a selection.

Click here to preview: "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry" or "Steve Steve, Steve", or Jerry signing off with "Take care of yourself and each other".

[via MocoNews]

Create Custom Spoken Ringtones with AT&T Labs

AT&T Labs has a web page that will convert whatever you type into spoken words. This allows you to create some custom voicetones for your device. [via Smartphone Thoughts ]

YouMail: The new voicemail for cell phones

YouMail is the new voicemail for cell phones. Among many features, it allows you to record unique voice greetings for anyone who calls you, based on their caller ID. Individualize your voice greetings for friends, family or important callers while maintaining a standard greeting for work and unknown callers.

And have fun with the ditchmail feature that hangs up on unwanted callers after your custom greeting for them is played.

[via YPulse]

Daytime TV Host Rachael Ray to launch voicetones messages from Rachel

A first, to the best of my knowledge. Voicetones and ringtones featuring messages from a day time TV show host. [press release]

Emmy-winning television personality and author Rachel Ray, has linked up with Epic Records to introduce fans to one of her great passions - music.

Together Rachael and Epic Records will release hip, every day soundtracks with songs hand picked by Rachael.

Additionally, Rachael and Epic have inked an exclusive digital deal for which Rachael created unique cellular voicetones. Epic will distribute the voicetones -ringtones featuring messages from Rachael to all major US carriers.

This week, Rachael launches her one-hour daily syndicated series, "Rachael Ray". She currently has four popular shows on the Food Network, has written 12 bestselling cookbooks -the past three debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Last year, she launched a new lifestyle magazine called Every Day with Rachael Ray. Rachael Ray's brand empire also includes cookware, appliances and knives. She was just selected as one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World and appears on this year's Celebrity 100 list of Forbes magazine.

Pet ringtones

According to this Press release, it would appear Purina dog food has gone a little overboard.

Purina has answered the call of pet lovers nationwide and expanded their mobile phone download options to include 15 pet ringtones.

Pet-related content over here.

Vendor’s dulcet tones ring out in Newcastle

The cries of an Evening Chronicle street vendor in Newcastle, who is dubbed the "voice of the North", have been recorded by the paper to be sold in the form of mobile phone ringtones, reveal Press Gazette and The Evening Chronicle.

Ronnie Gill's iconic calls have long echoed the streets of Newcastle and now The Chronicle is encouraging people to buy the ringtone by offering random cash prizes if readers approach newspaper street vendors and play them the ringtone from their phone.

To receive Ronnie Gill, text CHRON 710512 to 84700.

Ringtone Reenacts Gibson's Drunken Debacle in Malibu

OASYS Mobile today unveiled the "Mel In Malibu" ringtone, which dramatizes the star's recent highway arrest.

The ringtone can be downloaded for free and reenacts the controversial actor's altercation with the Los Angeles County police as he was pulled over for allegedly driving under the influence.

Cell phone users will know they are receiving a call when they hear an Australian accented voice scream "I own Malibu!"

"Mel in Malibu" is the first in a series of National Lampoon "ScandalTones" carried exclusively on OasysMobile.com.

Slangtones

Slangtones are a big hit on myspace.

Slangtones is a ringtone company specializes in voice ringers ringtones straight from the streets, offering kids slangtones from every major city.

Hey, hey, pickupa the phone or Man, it's me, stop playin. More here

Yentatones

Yentatones! They're hilarious. Check them out! A personal favorite "You Dont Call, You Dont Write..." - for anyone who relates to a Jewish mother.

According to their press release which came in my inbox, MyNuMo LLC partnered with voice talent Martha Kahn, to offer comic ringtones based on the rich tradition of Jewish and Yiddish humor and comedians." And funny it is.

Bushism voice tones on The Decider

A new store on Xingtone called The Decider, is offering some of George W's most funny (or stupid) statements as mobile phone voice tones.

Impressionists Voice Tones

Picked up on USA Today, in an article on comedy careers launched via the Web.

"Downloadable comedy cellphone ringtones that feature impressionists and other humurous material instead of traditional sounds already account for 7% to 14% of the $600 million U.S. ringtone market, according to industry tracker M:Metrics

Their novelty and appeal could propel growth faster than musical ringtones, says M:Metrics analyst Seamus McAteer.

Sprint/Nextel's Comedy on the Go offerings include a 24/7 channel of stand-up comedians and three just-launched humor channels, says Jeff Hallock, head of consumer marketing and strategy."

trumpringtones.com

In September, we reported that Donald Trump and Warner Music Group launched Trump Mobile — a suite of products that includes ringtones, video ringtones and Trump wallpaper for cellphone screens, available on major US carriers.

Here's a direct link to the Trump Ringtones website.

Or, wireless consumers can text “TRUMP” to 74466 to purchase Trump Mobile personalization products directly on their phones.

The Trump collection of voice and video ringtones and ringback tones include phrases such as:

-- “Always stay focused. Also you’re getting a phone call, focus on that”

-- “Why not answer your phone, you could be missing out on some really big business” “What are you going to do, listen to me all day?”

Poker Pro Ringtones

Talk about niche! How about Poker Pro Ringtones?

If you're familiar with the voices of "The Master" Nguyen, David Williams and Evelyn Ng - the three poker stars - you will soon be able to download them as ringtones (pokertones?), ringback tones, voicemail and/or greetings.

Sports-Stuff.com, which publishes and distributes mobile sports and entertainment content, said that in addition the the three pros currently signed on to the initiative, fans can expect to see more poker pros added to the list in the near future.

[via Poker 77]

Have your phone sing your first name as a ringtone

Spanish Olemovil offers TONO NOMBRES, a very personalized ringtone service, enabling your phone to sing out a little song calling your name, whenever it rings.

You have to download the application or send it to a friend as a surprise. Let's say she's called Vanessa. Next time she gets a call, her mobile will sing "Vanessa, someone's calling you, Vanessa,pick up the phone!". [via Noticias].

Related service:

-- Spring PCS gets name ringers - If you thought ringtones were annoying, how about a phone which calls you by your first name, saying “Amy… Amy… Amy… Oh, Amy… Pick up the phone.” According to Mobile Tracker, Sprint PCS is offering just that. They call them “name ringers”, a collection of ringtones made just for people with common names. (It only works for common names as they have to make the ringtones, it's not a voice synth).

Monica Bellucci's customized ringtone

Monica Bellucci's phone rings to the sounds of her infant daughter Deva laughing and cooing, writes Ottawasun.

"It's my way of keeping connected to her."
"She's 10 months old and this is the first time I've been away from her," says the Italian actress who flew to Los Angeles recently to help promote Terry Gilliam's special effects fantasy The Brothers Grimm that opens Aug. 26.

Ring tones that bite and zing

Ben Chamy in an article in News.com writes that an increasing number of ring tones are adapted from bits of speech, movie sound effects and other unconventional sources, including adult-film actress Jenna Jameson, who has created an R-rated ring tone that is said to be among the best-selling cell phone alerts in Latin America.

"While there's little specific data on sales of these new novelties, there is anecdotal evidence suggesting they will emerge as the next big ring-tone trend, said Matt Kleinschmit, vice president of market analyst firm Ipsos Insight, which has been tracking the ring-tone market for several years.

The rest of the article is roundup of familiar stories for anyone reading this column, but one important story is missing, how a voice tone was used for the first time to destabilize a governemnt (a cellphone sound clip spread allegations that the President of the Philippines tried to fix the result of last year's election).

Mr T Launches Ringtones

“I pity the fool who doesn't answer their phone” and “Pick it up, Sucka” are the two voicetones launched by Mr. T., on Blue Frog Mobile's Ringtopia. ‘Nuf said.

[via Moco News]

Make your child's voice your cell-phone ring tone

When was the last time you heard a child's voice saying ``Daddy, it's me. Pick up the phone,'' as a ring tone?

Xingtone is making it easy to create your own ring tone -- anything from something you've recorded into a microphone to your favorite 20-second clip of a tune in your personal MP3 collection.

Xingtone software -- available for both the Mac and the PC -- allows users to tap into their personal music collection, isolate the section of the song they want as the ring tone, preview it and send it to the phone.

The phone receives a text message with a link to the ring tone file and downloads it into the phone itself. Yes, that means the user needs a phone that is capable of connecting to the Internet -- which most of today's phones are equipped to do."

For now, the software is sold in retail stores or as a download from www .xingtone.com with individual licenses.

[via Mercury News]

Gay model voice tones

According to Out in America, Brickhouse Mobile today announced details of its three-year agreement with Falcon Studios, the leading creator of gay adult content, to develop, distribute and sell mobile phone content and services worldwide.

"Original wallpapers, videos, and attention-grabbing voice ringtones will be created featuring some of Falcon's exclusive models, including Matthew Rush, Josh Weston, Erik Rhodes, and Roman Heart.

In addition, Falcon will create custom video clips from their vast catalog of adult films."

Personalised adult ringtones

Orgasmatones are massively personalised orgasmic ringtones. The developers have started with the 500 most popular male names (based on UK census data circa 1987), and depending on the success of this project will be rolling out girls names next, followed by regionalised variations.

The site is live at orgasmatones.com/demo until 12pm GMT 04/06/05, when it reverts to www.orgasmatones.com

This is not a subscription service, and the price per orgasmatone is £2.50. An example can be found here.

Related:

-- (male) orgasmatones.com

Jerky Boy Kamal Ringtones Available at MonsterTones.com

Monster Tones has announced a partnership with Crimson Screen Partners to host cell phone ringtones created by Kamal Ahmed of The Jerky Boys. These novel ringtones include greetings from some of Ahmed's most memorable Jerky Boy characters.

The Jerky Boys duo rose to fame in the 1990s by releasing a series of comedy albums featuring prank phone calls. The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum comedy act sold more than 8,000,000 albums.

Press release.

Voice Tones Causing Strife In Industry

According to Rafat Ali for Moco News, an interesting powerplay is occuring between aggregators and labels, with the artists in the middle, as usual.

"The labels are coming down hard on companies cutting direct deals with artists and developing and selling voicetones (the voice clips from these artists, as ringtones). Bryan Biniak, head of AGMobile, a division of American Greetings, narrated this interplay at a panel at Digital Hollywood earlier last week…

“You'll see fewer and fewer artist-type direct deals…for labels, voice is voice, whether it is music or voice ringtones.”

Disney characters turn into ringtones

Disney Mobile, part of the Walt Disney Internet Group, is now offering consumers an extensive array of character voice ringtones featuring the voices of their most popular Disney and Disney/Pixar characters. The ringtones are currently available to customers of major carriers in the US for a fee of US$2.50 per ringtone, reports Geekzone.

"Ringtone voices from classic and popular characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Pooh and Tigger, as well as newer characters such as Stitch, Woody, Buzz Lightyear and even Mr. Incredible."

FlixTones

Leap Wireless has expanded it's Cricket Clicks suite of mobile applications with the launch of FlixTones -- a variety of downloadable quotes and soundtracks from movies to play as ringtones for their mobile phone, according to a company press release.

"In addition to enabling Cricket Clicksusers to select their favorite movie clips, FlixTones also allows subscribers to select the clips that best fit their family and friends. A call from mom may be signaled by the soundtrack from The Wizard Of Oz, while a clip from Old School might play when a life-of-the-party friend calls."

jabbertones's political voice tones

Jabbertones, a ringtone startup focusing on voice-based content for mobile phones, has just launched a library of over 50 political voice tones containing original and quoted material by John Kerry, George Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger and other politicians; recorded by "sound alike" vocal talent artists.

Video messages, a new trend? Openwave Video Voicemail and Video Portal

Consumers can now create their own personal video greeting on their mobile phones for any of the different people in their life, thanks to Openwave Video Voicemail andVideo Portal.

Examples of customized video greetings, which users can modify for
different audiences, include:

-- A parent recording a message for their hild away on an overnight stay at camp where the child gets the message, "Goodnight honey. I will see you tomorrow."

- A business case scenario is recording a video for a supervisor with the message, "I am away from the office please leave me a message."

-- Among the celebrity greeting options, users can opt to select "Dirty Harry" with a video voicemail of Client Eastwood saying, "You've got to ask yourself a question -- Do I feel lucky?" to their boyfriend/girlfriend or friend.

-- For gaming buddies, they can pick a character, like Avatar or a character from Doom, to leave their messages and the "animatron" will lip sync the message with the end user's voice recorded.

More in company press release.

Related article:

-- Levi's launches video messages and mobile ringtones - Visitors to Levi's pan-European Website will be able to create video messages and compose mobile ringtones as part of a campaign for its 501 Anti-Fit range,

Presidential Voice Tones

ClearSky Mobile Media Inc., delivering entertainment content to mobile phones, has announced the availability of political themed ringtones and wallpapers.

The ClearSky offer includes the actual voices of President George Bush and Senator John Kerry as the two men race for the White House.

Anyone can now go to their favorite Clear Channel radio station website or to ClearTonz.com and purchase their favorite politician ringtones or wallpaper.

This follows Engadget's Presidential Candidate Ringtonges launched in June.

Show your support for the candidate you love (or hate) by having them endorse your incoming phone call with these ringtones. Each ringtone is the candidate saying their name and that they “approve this message”.

”I'm John Kerry and I approve this message”.

”I'm George W. Bush and I approve this message”.

”I'm Ralph Nader, running for president and I approve this mess”.