Jan 10, 2007 5:17pm
Apple Takes Over the World
EmailIf you haven’t overdosed on the iPhone, the BlackbeardSEO blog raises a terrific thought: "the iPhone is huge problem for the ringtone industry. In many ways it makes the ringtone industry completely obsolete. It’s an iPod so any song that you own can be used as a Ringtone. Don’t want to pay $1.99 for a low-quality re-sampling of a song that you already own to be used as your ringtone? Great, you don’t have to." If you’re, say, Verizon or T-Mobile, or any of a gazillion third-party aspirants to the ringtone business, this is not a terrific thought–it’s terrifying. Ringtones have been a major sideline for cellphone companies. Will they all have to march to Apple’s, er, iTune?
Space Station Flies Over Eastern U.S. at Night 
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why do you say this like it’s a bad thing, tech is good, horrible cell companies that lock people in bad contracts and then try to charge for silly things like ringtones deserve what they get.
Posted by: sprinkles | January 10, 2007, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
Hello, sprinkles.
I had to smile when I saw your post. I’m sorry you thought I was passing judgement either way; I don’t think my own opinions are either important or very interesting.
You reminded me of a quotation from Andy Grove, the former head of Intel: “Technology happens. It’s not good, it’s not bad. Is steel good or bad?”
–Ned
Posted by: Ned Potter | January 10, 2007, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
I hadn’t stopped to reflect on what the introduction of the iPhone means to the ringtone “industry,” but it certainly seems that its days are numbered, unless, that is, the cellular phone providers decide to limit the iPhone by preventing it from using downloaded songs as ringtones. One thing that is certain about the uncertain world of new technology is that whenever something changes the playing field, there will always be someone trying to circumvent those changes. Remember the successful efforts to break the “unbreakable” copy-preventing encryption of DVD’s?
Posted by: chuck | January 11, 2007, 8:31 am 8:31 am
Is this a new concept? I’ve been able to take ringtones from any of my CD’s and convert them to ringtones on my Sony-Ericsson phone from Cingular. My favorite is a line from one of Bill Cosby’s CD’s.
Verizon blocks some capabilities of phones like the RAZR so they can charge for ringtones. Cingular lets you use the phone with all their built-in capabilities. Check before you buy.
Posted by: Wes | January 11, 2007, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
Wow thats unbelievable that someone could defend the expensive prices on a silly product such as a Ringtone. Apple is revolutionizing the handheld device market. Many people carry up to three devices on them at all times, a cell phone, an ipod and a computer or pda. Apple is compressing an already diluted market into one complete handheld device. I mean to think that phone carriers might actually have to create a good service to attract customers is absurd. Hopefully we’ll be able to see some good out of this, nokia and sony can now officially start designing cell phones to their specifications. Remove subsidizing and cause cell phone providers to begin up their networks, start using VOIP to get rid of minutes and create wireless internet at greater speeds to attract consumers.
Posted by: Jason | January 11, 2007, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
People would not simply switch to another carrier just for an overpriced new phone. Consumers did their research before choosing which carrier to stick with. Cingular scored this time, Apple is going to miss out on quite a lot of money. Apple is not going to dominate, at least not through the iphone.
Posted by: jason | January 14, 2007, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
I just got rid of Cingular as my phone service because of poor reception in my home, negating it’s use for long distance calls. So… while I think the iPhone is cool, it would be foolish to switch back. My new Verizon phone has a stronger signal.
I would be much happier if iPhone gave consumers a choice.
Posted by: Mimi | January 18, 2007, 12:13 am 12:13 am