The Evolution Of Cellular Phone Ringtones

October 19, 2008

Despite a sceptical greeting and a slow acceptance in the 80s, mobile phones have had one of the biggest changes on society of any recent gadget. Initially mocked as a status symbol for yuppies and stock brokers, large scale production quickly moved them from flashy status symbol, to must have toy, to commonplace appliance.

As mobile phones became smaller, less expensive, and simpler to use, more and more people started to use them. Even as they became every day objects, carried around as an essential along with our house keys and purse, the miniature computers inside them become more and more advanced.

These huge increases in computing capability enabled the manufacturers and carriers to start offering customisation options, allowing owners to modify their own phones with clip on covers, wallpaper pictures to display on screen – and fun ringtones.

Initially only basic creating ringtones were offered, using a limited range of sounds to play the sort of tacky tune you’d expect to hear as hold music. However, manufacturers soon realised how popular creating ringtones were, and so started to add more complex audio hardware to their mobiles.

Mobile phones can now play complete CD quality music and sound effects, and be configured to play a specific tune for a group of people, as well as when recieving a text message or other alert. The once large and flashy status symbols have now evolved into desirable hand held computers, combining PDA and portable sound system.

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The Evolution Of Cellular Phone Ringtones

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