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Verizon giving it’s customers a free ringtone; I see some serious potential for Nokia

Categories: Ideas and rants
By: , IntoMobile
Friday, December 29th, 2006 at 7:23 PM

According to a Verizon Wireless press representative that contacted us, Verizon Wireless customers will be able to get a free ringtone download from the company on New Years Eve. Verizon customers simply need to text the word "Tone" to the number 2007 with their phone and they will receive instructions as to how they can download a free ringtone of their choosing.

Potential New Year’s Eve freeloaders can check out the list of available ringtones at the Verizon Wireless Get It Now website. Just remember that the code only works for Verizon Wireless customers and is only valid on New Years Eve, December 31st.

Source: Mobile Burn

Ding! Light bulb! Why doesn’t Nokia revamp the Nokia PC Suite and actually offer free ring tones, as well as other services, to its customers directly. No need to pay for bandwidth fees since you’ll have your phone hooked up directly via USB. Wait a minute I just remembered something … carriers never include the USB cable because they would rather get more money from you. Hmmm something must be possible. Bluetooth?

You see where I’m getting at however. Why do things such as ring tones and wallpapers, something that American cell phone subscribers go gaga over, have to be something exclusively offered by the (communist) carriers? The Nokia PC Suite holds HUGE potential, but it isn’t being used to it’s fullest advantage. The iPod wouldn’t be where it is today if it wasn’t for iTunes. When will I be able to say that about the PC Suite?

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About The Author

Stefan Constantinescu

Stefan Constantinescu (@WhatTheBit on Twitter) has loved technology since as far back as he can remember. It started with computers, but in the past few years his passion has turned to mobile devices. As a mobile phone enthusiast who lives and breathes devices that connect to the internet, he knows he is not alone with this radical fascination of all things wireless. He is strongly opinionated and enjoys a good debate so leave comments in his posts and he’ll get back to you! Stefan began blogging as a hobby in the fall of 2006 and joined IntoMobile in the summer of 2007. Later he got a job at Nokia in March 2008, but as of June 2009 he has rejoined the IntoMobile team. He is currently based out of Helsinki, Finland.

  • Ken Camp

    Ok, we’re into one of those generational anomalies that we need to talk about, because I don’t give a hoot for ringtones. My phone is almost always on silent/vibrate. But my Treo 700W, via the synch programs easily lets me put any MP3 I want on it and play it. And pick anything I want for a ringtone. I can make a whole song the ringtone if I want. Or trim it down and only play the riff I want (assuming I edit the MP3).

    While it’s not a feature I have much interest in, I’m with you Stefan. Any sound I can put on the device should have an option to “select as ringtone,” And they need to make it easier to trade them around. Bluetooth would work, and why not share songs or whatever other media we have on the phone the same way.

  • Stefan Constantinescu

    Oh Ken trust me I’m the same way, I live in vibrate mode, but I’m thinking from the perspective of a corporate leech who wants to make as much money as I possibly can. The ring tone market is hot hot hot and right now carriers are racking in the dough with something Nokia can do for free or reduced cost. Get some Nokia “exclusive ring tones” and you’ll have a business model.

  • Henrikki

    @ Ken: You can put MP3 as ring tones to your E-series devices as well.

  • Rex

    I don’t get it..why even require PC suite for downloading content?
    As of today, all you need is a midi/mp3 file to be saved to your phone as a ringtone! There are thousands of free midis available online, and as for MP3s, you can create your own sample using software.
    I have always hated the concept of paying for ringtones/wallpapers. Operators charge for it simply cos they can, and they control the entire network infrastructure. Imagine if this applied to our regular internet surfing as well..and you had to pay for every picture that appeared in your browser!!

  • Stefan Constantinescu

    Because lots of people have their music on their computer