Friday, August 31, 2007, 11:05 am
Apple to launch ringtone service for iPhone users
Apple during its media event next Wednesday plans to unveil a new ringtone service that will allow iPhone users to turn almost any song sold through iTunes into a ringtone for an additional fee, according to the NY Post.While the exact pricing for the service is unclear at this point, a source suggested to the New York paper that the ringtones may be marketed as enhanced downloads in much the same way Apple offers high-quality, unprotected music files from EMI.
Apple will also allow users to convert songs they have previously purchased through iTunes into a ringtone.
"In a new twist, iPhone users will have the ability to choose any part of the song they want as their ringtone," the Post said. "Most major ringtone offerings from Verizon, AT&T or Sprint feature pre-determined samples."
For consumers who don't want to design personalized ringtones, Apple will reportedly also sell traditional music ringtones.
Revenues from the sale of ringtones in the U.S. topped $600 million in 2006, up from $68 million in 2003, according to BMI, a collection society for songwriters and publishers. Meanwhile, worldwide sales last year are reported to have totaled $3.5 billion.
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Thank god! Because the lack of ringtones is what's keeping this phone down!
But what about songs not sold through the iTMS. And why does it cost any money at all to take one of your legally purchased songs and make a ringtone out of it?
And is it going to cost the same, if not more, for a ringtone then the complete version of a song?