My Phone Drops It Like It's Hot
Did a little experiment earlier this month...
In December T-Mobile became the first domestic wireless provider to offer ringbacks, which they branded "CallerTunes." It allows you to "replace the boring 'ring-ring' with your choice of the hottest song, celebrity voice, and comedy clips." It didn't take long for me to realize CallerTunes will confuse the shit out of anyone calling. So I bought one just to hear everyone's reaction. Here's a sampling.
"Scott, what was that? It didn't ring."
"[silence]"
"That is RETARDED. Change it now."
"Scott, change that NOW. It's so fucking annoying."
The most common reaction was not to leave a message out of protest (or in my mom's case, confusion). Everyone hated the idea of CallerTunes, especially the one I chose:
"Snoop Dogg here. Did you expect a ring? I'm waiting for them to answer too."
Even worse, if your phone happens to be off, the ringback is looped. "Snoop Dogg here. Did you expect a ring? I'm waiting for them to answer too. Snoop Dogg here. Did you expect a ring? I'm waiting for them to answer too. Snoop Dogg here. Did you expect a ring? I'm waiting for them to answer too..." For this privilege it'll cost you $1.49/month for the service plus $1.99 for each CallerTune.
After a few days I went back to "ring-ring."
Admittedly it would've been less annoying if I chose a song as opposed to a voicetone. But how long before CallerTunes/RingBacks/Etc... become popular enough so the caller isn't confused? (Ringbacks are a huge hit in India; more than one in 10 cellphones have them.)
Is this a great marketing tool for new music or a gimmick that will never take off?
Related: What's your ringtone these days?
Posted at 8:26 AM
"the final countdown"
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"Back in Black" Now all I need is that Camaro...
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The theme from The Office.
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A-Team theme song
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actually yo uare wrong, Verizon offered this first...then t-mobile
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theme from Tales from the Crypt
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Theme from Dallas
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Rush: "Limelight", interspersed with K-Ci & JoJo: "All My Life" for when my lady-friend calls
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I want a "Mona Lisa" ringback so baddddddd.
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pixies "debaser"
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kashmir
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some weezer song
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Alex P. Keaton telling me to answer the damn phone. That and "hoochie mamas" by 2 live crew.
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i'm pretty sure this just makes me hate cell phones even more, if possible.
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"Night On Fire", VHS or Beta
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Depending on the "ring style" I've got
1)Somebody Told Me-The Killers
2)Title & Registration-Death Cab for Cutie
3)Hollaback Girl-Gwen Stefani
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Final Countdown, Hot Buttered Popcorn, or Goodbye Stranger, depending on my mood.
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Scotland the Brave . . . I'm serious.
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Mr Brightside.
Everytime my cell rings it goes, "Destiny is calling me."
It's starting to get really annoying. I think I might change it.
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scott, that was damn funny. thanks for a good laugh.
my phone is a five year old motorol startac, and therefore has no fancy rings. "final countdown" like someone had above would be fun if i could, just like G.O.B.'s on arrested development.
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costello's watching the detectives. i'm quite fond of it, actually.
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an mp3 i ripped of menthol's "danger: rock science!" it's got a great drum intro and the ring cuts out right after balthi yelps, "danger, rock science, in the wrong hands!"
it's awesome.
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Depends on who's calling: The Killers' "Mr. Brightside", Underworld's "Born Slippy", or U2's "New Year's Day".
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Kraftwerk - "Showroom Dummies"
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wife=hen sound
friends=Donnie Darko soundbite "Sometimes I doubt your committment to Sparklemotion"
unknown callers=Team America soundbite "I said I'd never die... but now I'm DEAD INSIDE!"
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Toxic, the non-chorus version
(I'm so humiliated)
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is there a way to make your own r-tones by sending mmmpeeethree or some other format to your phone? the two bills is breaking me y'all.
what is the questionable content in this post??? it says i can't post this? wtf
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Maybe it's because I'm on lame-Sprint, but does this Ring-back service actually let the CALLER hear the song that's playing while it's ringing as well? I am muy confused.
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Dan: Hot Buttered Popcorn--that is amazing! I love that song. I'm going to download it right now.
And does everyone have the Killers on their cellphone?
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I couldn't find my favorite random song ("Mu**r On The Dancefloor") so I went for cheesy..."Come Clean" by Hilary Duff. But for boys that I have kissed/dated/have crushes on, it's "Another One Bites The Dust".
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Dashboard Confessional- Vindicated
I also have a voice saying 'hello, are you there sexy'
haha.....
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5 piece chicken dinner - Beastie Boys. I figured out how to make my own ringers at www.freeringers.net
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the streets - fit but you know it.
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re: what is the questionable content in this post??? it says i can't post this? wtf
Sorry about that. I have a lot of terms blocked because spammers hijack the comments section. It's usually stuff like poker(hyphen)games or cheap(hyphen)pills, 'cause they're in the spammer URLs. If you get a 'questionable comment' thing, check to see if maybe it's the hyphen that's the problem.
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Damn, I have "New Year's Day" on my phone too! Someone else here is as cool as me *wink*
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The first 20 seconds of Chewing Gum by Annie works well.
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I found a sweet old real telephone ring through Samsung. It's funny how a real ring throws more people off when they hear it as opposed to Jay-Z's "99 Problems"...
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The intro to "Take On Me" by A-Ha for the ladies
The Knight Rider theme song for people I don't know
"Like A Pimp" by David Banner for the gents
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sex and the city theme song
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Pacman start up song is my main ring
Pour Some Sugar On Me for the boy
You Can Call Me Al for my bestest girl Allison
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Mrs. Blu used to have the Sex & The City theme, it actually sounded pretty decent.
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Super Mario Bros theme song- original NES version
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"Born Slippy"
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I switch between "Big Pimpin'" and "Wanksta"
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the theme song from "Six Feet Under"
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The BTVS theme. The opening drum riff just cracks me up, as a midi, so when it starts up I snatch the phone out of my purse like it's Mister Pointy.
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I got "no rain" by blind melon
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I got "no rain" by blind melon
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"london calling"
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push it - salt n' peppa
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Underworld - Born Slippy. Btw, have you heard the new Drop It Like It's Hot remix featuring Snoop, Pharrell, and Jay-Z dissing R. Kelly?
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"bizarre love triangle"
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Copa Cabana....
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Can I Live - Jay Z
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David Cross yelling "answer your telephone! answer your telephone!"
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great. no one here commented that snoop says 'i'm waitin' for them to assah too.'
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a good ol' funny polyphonic tone of 'mary jane' by rick james. I was using one of 'dem 0:17 mp3s of 'ante up' by m.o.p., but the ring scared the shit out of everyone in my office whenever anyone called. which is, of course, the obvious result, come to think of it. 'YAP THAT FOOL!'
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LOL! still getting over "copa cabana" love it! LOL!
...wait
...damn
...now I got the tune in my head!
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"close to me"
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the arrested development theme song!
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Death Cab - For What Reason
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Death Cab - For What Reason
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"History" by Controller.Controller
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Celebrities - Britney Spears, Beyonce, Jessica Simpson and Jenifer Lopez wallpapers. For those who needs.
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Very good site. Thanks:-)
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Good site. Thanks!
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