Mobile Ringtone

The mobile ringtone is an array of melodies and sounds that notifies the mobile phone owner of an incoming call. A mobile ringtone is stored in the phone memory or memory stick and may be listened to (without an incoming call) using the playback mode. Although it is called a mobile ringtone, it does not consist of tones only. Most mobile ringtone selections are sound effects, songs and other audio clip formats. Mobile ringtone is sometimes confused with "caller ringback", which is the sound the caller hears (from the earpiece) to tell the caller that his or her outgoing call is getting through.

A mobile ringtone has different types: monophonic, polyphonic and truetones. Monophonic tones are mobile ringtones composed of musical tones produced one by one in a note series. In contrast, a number of notes played simultaneously consitute polyphonic tones. Earlier polyphonic tones were in MIDI formats. Truetones are also called realtones because these types of mobile ringtones are actual audio clips and recordings of real sounds and voices.

Mobile ringtone has become a reflection of an individual's personality. Because of the continuously growing popularity of mobile ringtone, network service providers offer downloads for a certain fee. They may also be downloaded for free on the Internet.

How does a mobile ringtone work?

In mobile phones, a signal is digitally sent to the phone when there is an incoming call. The mobile ringtone is activated and produces a sound to tell the mobile phone owner of the call. A mobile ringtone is programmed to stop ringing only when the call is answered or cancelled.

Some websites provide ringtone making and editing features. This enables the user to clip an audio file to its preferred length and content before downloading the clip into the mobile phone. Depending on its format, a mobile ringtone can be transferred using USB connection, Bluetooth technology or forwarded as text message.

Why do you need a mobile ringtone?

A mobile ringtone does not only prompt you to answer an incoming call. Depending on the model or brand of your mobile phone, you can select a ringtone for your phone's alarm clock and calendar reminders. This allows you to customize alerts such as wake-up calls and due dates of tasks or activities listed in your calendar.

Some mobile phones manufacturers created models capable of composing a mobile ringtone. This gives the users added flexibility in personalising their mobile phones. Some mobile phone models allow individual ringtone assignment to specific entries in the phonebook. This means that that mobile ringtone in these phones can also serve as caller ID.