Mosquitotone - Teen Buzz/Teenager Repellent ringtone available

The original "Teen Buzz" ringtone is now available from Compound Security Systems the manufacturer of the Mosquito box - a device which emits a sound only audible to teenagers and which shopkeepers have bought in droves to keep away anti social youths who hang out in front of their stores fronts and drive their customers away. Dubbed and trademarked «Mosquitotone», the ringtone is available by texting ‘mozzy’ or ‘mozzie’ to short code 87070 from the UK for now, and very soon to be available worldwide. Will keep you posted where. Related posts: -- Teenager repellent "Mosquito" turned into ringtone -- A Teenager Repellent permalink (June 8th, 2006)

Annoy-A-Teen Developer Considers Charges Over Pirated iPhone App

The developer of the Anoy-a-Teen iPhone app, that uses high-frequency sound which most teens can hear but not anyone over 30, is considering criminal charges after the app was pirated. The app is a take-off of the much written about Mosquitotone teenage repellent ringtone which made headlines in 2006. [via Real Tech News] Related: Apple App Store Problems permalink (January 18th, 2009)

Ringtones for dogs coming to Japanese cellphones

After the Mosquitotone, a ringtone heard only by the under 20 crowd, now a Tokyo-based content provider Dwango has announced that it would start selling specialized ringtones which can be heard only by dogs. It's not clear why this is a good idea. Hmm, Maybe Japanese dogs answer cell phones? [via engadget:mobile] permalink (June 22nd, 2008)

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 permalink (April 11th, 2007)

New Movie "The Messengers" includes ringing only teens can hear

To promote the upcoming supernatural thriller "The Messengers," Sony Pictures has included in its dossier of digital-marketing tools a ringtone only young consumers can hear, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "The ultrasonic ringtone -- ringtones that are audible to teenagers but not adults -- are a featured aspect of the film's promotional campaign, which is geared toward a teen audience. The ringtone itself, which can be purchased for $2.49 at sony.com/TheMessengers, was created specifically for the film. Adult-proof ringtones first got attention in the form of "Teen Buzz or Mosquitotone" a popular ring tone adapted from a sonar-based security system used in Europe, Compound Security Systems Ltd, to keep teenagers from loitering at retail outlets." permalink (December 28th, 2006)

Phat Tonez removes the adult-proof Mosquito ringtone from sale due to waves of complaints

In a PR Newswire press release, ring tone provider Phat Tonez explains why their company removed the teenager repellent "Mosquitotone" from their offerings following the 100th complaint that landed on their desk. "Teachers have complained that their lessons are being disrupted by every other pupil turning towards the culprit when their mobile phone starts to ring with the mosquito sound. According to James Winsoar, Company Director ofPhat Tonez- who by the way, launched the first ringtone customising business back in 1999: "Originally we thought the stealth ringtone was an amazing use of mobile phone technology, but we have to square up to our social responsibilities too and therefore have taken the unprecidented action of removing the ringtone from sale altogether". "Originally we thought the stealth ringtone was an amazing use of mobile phone technology, but we have to square up to our social responsibilities too and therefore have taken the unprecidented action of removing the ringtone from sale altogether". permalink (October 18th, 2006)

Secret alarm becomes dance track

Wales-based Compound Security released the "Mosquitotone" ringtone as a way of letting teenagers hear their phones ringing without adults knowing. It was developed because adults lose the ability to hear high-pitched sound. But now the sound is being used in a dance track, Buzzin', with secret melodies only young ears can hear. The tune was developed after the success of the company's ringtone which was released in June. Simon Morris from Compound Security said: "Following the success of the ringtone, a lot of people were asking us to do a bit more, so we got together with the producers Melodi and they came up with a full-length track. "It has two harmonies - one that everyone can hear and one that only young people can hear. "But it works well together or separate," he added. "Although it (the dance track) isn't our main business, the demand for it is definitely there," said Mr Morris.

Related articles:

Music that you can’t hear!?

-- A Ring Tone Meant to Fall on Deaf Ears

-- Mosquitotone - Teen Buzz/Teenager Repellent ringtone available

-- Teenager repellent "Mosquito" turned into ringtone

-- Teen Buzz Ringtone to be made available by "Mosquito" manufacturer

-- A Teenager Repellent Related side stories: -- Manilow music as another teenage repellent scheme

-- Web Hosting company registers mosquitone.net and exploits teen buzz ringtone permalink (September 30th, 2006)

LiveScience on the Mosquito Tone and hearing loss

According to LiveScience, the reason the over 30 crowd can't hear the Mosquitotone, is "a result of an epidemic of noise-induced hearing loss, not just aging." "There is natural age-related hearing loss, called presbycusis. And then there's unnatural, accelerated hearing loss from noise. Most 30-year-olds should be able to hear a 17-kilohertz sound. This is the case in quiet societies in remote regions such as Nepal and parts of Africa. The fact that many of us cannot hear the Mosquito is a result of an epidemic of noise-induced hearing loss, not just aging." Mosquitotone Related articles: -- A Ring Tone Meant to Fall on Deaf Ears -- Mosquitotone - Teen Buzz/Teenager Repellent ringtone available -- Teenager repellent "Mosquito" turned into ringtone -- Where to download the Mosquitotone Links to related studies and article on hearing loss: -- iPod/Cell Phone warning: turn it down -- Mobiles could lead to hearing loss among college kids -- Siemens phones may cause hearing damage permalink (July 19th, 2006)

US mobile users can download official teen buzz ring at FORK:

The Mosquitotone, aka the Teen Buzz ringtone, or more specifically the ringtone adults can't hear, is available for downloading by US mobile users at FORK:. This is the official version from Compound Security. And Mobile Burn points to another website, www.mozzytones, where mobile users from the UK, Italy, Australia and South Africa can download the official version.

Related articles:

-- A Ring Tone Meant to Fall on Deaf Ears

-- Mosquitotone - Teen Buzz/Teenager Repellent ringtone available

-- Teenager repellent "Mosquito" turned into ringtone

-- Teen Buzz Ringtone to be made available by "Mosquito" manufacturer

-- A Teenager Repellent

Related side stories:

-- Manilow music as another teenage repellent scheme

-- Web Hosting company registers mosquitone.net and exploits teen buzz ringtone

permalink (June 15th, 2006)

A Ring Tone Meant to Fall on Deaf Ears

Apologies. I posted this yesterday and deleted it by error. Here goes again - with some changes. The New York Times picked up on the Teen Buzz ringtone story - the one with a frequency too high for most adults to hear (links to previous posts below). And described how some freshman honors math class students, tried it out on their teacher at Roslyn High School on Long Island. Here's the MP3 audio. Can you hear it? I can't - which makes sense, I'm way over 20. My son who's 16 can hear it - he says it's annoying. So it really does work. Knock offs are sure to proliferate. I found one on a Swiss ringtone site - but it's not the real thing, as I can hear it loud and clear. This story has been so good for Ringtonia, the smallest sister of the Textually blog network. The New York Times article was digged and gathered hundreds of comments, many of them pointing out and linking to the teen buzz story posted weeks ago. Kevin Maney on USA Today mentioned it too. Thank you! Related: -- Mosquitotone - Teen Buzz/Teenager Repellent ringtone available -- Teenager repellent "Mosquito" turned into ringtone -- Teen Buzz Ringtone to be made available by "Mosquito" manufacturer -- A Teenager Repellent Related side stories: -- Manilow music as another teenage repellent scheme -- Web Hosting company registers mosquitone.net and exploits teen buzz ringtone permalink (June 13th, 2006)