Cell Phone Ringtones

Cell Phone Ringtones: Where to Get Tones

Most cell phones have options where users can download tones from their service provider. In fact, some monthly plans now include that option, or charge a low rate for multiple uses. Other places to look include getting tones from outside sources, like RingTone JukeBox and Sony Music Box.

RingTone JukeBox offers ringtones, realtones and other cell phone downloads from their website. The downloads work with most providers, including Cingular, T-Mobile, Midwest Wireless, Sprint PCS Vision, Alltel, Nextel, and Verizon, among others. Before downloading cell phone ringtones from the site, the company recommends testing your phone to make sure it is compatible with their technology. All realtones are $2.99 and most ringtones are $1.99. Payment can be made by credit card or by PayPal.

Sony offers a Music Box that has different digital or polyphonic versions of hit songs, movie and TV themes, and voice clips from television. An online preview option is available to listen to the music before purchase. Cingular, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone are a few of service providers that are compatible with Sony’s downloads. For some phones from Verizon, U.S. Cellular, and Alltel, the Sony Music Box application must be downloaded in the “GetItNow” section of their phone’s options before getting ringtones.

How To Download

Downloading cell phone ringtones is extremely easy. When purchasing through a service provider, most can be done through the phone itself. However, make sure you know the data charges for connecting and downloading before beginning. Check with your provider for the appropriate price scale.

Most ringtones purchased through a third party are done online. Once you select the song or tone you want, the company will send a text message or URL link to your cellular phone. Instructions are then given for how to download the tone to your personal phone. Make sure your service provider does not charge additional fees for URL linkage before choosing a tone company that uses this option.

Popular Ringtones

Ringtone taste varies from person to person, but most popular tones are R&B and hip-hop tunes. These are especially popular with teens and 20-somethings. Additionally, movie themes, like that from Godfather, or television themes, like Sex and the City, are trendy with both men and women. Some people download sound bites, from shows such as South Park.

When the holidays come around, many change their cell phone ringtones to something that fits the season. Christmas tunes are popular in December, and the theme from the movie Halloween, along with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, are downloaded frequently in October.

Ringtone downloading has become so popular that the music industry magazine Billboard now charts the most downloaded songs. At the time this article was written (May 2006), the most downloaded songs according to Billboard, include:

• Ms. New Booty, by Bubba Sparxxx Feat. Ying Yang Twins & Mr. Collipark
• Super Mario Brothers Theme by Koji Kondo
• Mission Impossible by Lalo Schifrin
• Best Friend by 50 Cent & Olivia
• What Hurts The Most by Rascal Flatts

Check out the other popular downloads and updated charts at Billboard.com.