AfterDawn: News

Apple plans to offer pre-made ringtones for iPhone

At Apple's press event next week, the company is expected to add pre-made ringtones for iPhones, available from iTunes. The company is hoping to get a cut of the (strangely) large revenues generated each year through the sale of ringtones. Analysts expect that pre-made ringtones could be available directly from iTunes for about $1.29.

Currently, users can buy tracks from iTunes and pay an additional 99c to get a 30 second clip of the track to use as a ringtone. Apple's new ringtones service would be a higher price at $1.29, but lower when you add the original cost of the track.



Research firm SNL Kagan reported that in 2007, sales of ringtones amounted to $714 million, but fell to $541 million the next year. Perhaps more users are realizing that unless you are using a phone with heavy restrictions that you cannot lift, you can create ringtones rather easily out of your music collection.

Even in iTunes already, you can cut a track up to 40 seconds, save it as AAC (results in file with m4a extension) and just change its extension to .m4r, open with iTunes and then sync ringtones to iPhone.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 6 Sep 2009 0:39

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• 10 comments

• keith1993

  Quote:users can buy tracks from iTunes and pay an additional 99c to get a 30 second clip of the track to use as a ringtone.
  Quote:Even in iTunes already, you can cut a track up to 40 seconds, save it as AAC (results in file with m4a extension) and just change its extension to .m4r, open with iTunes and then sync ringtones to iPhone. Or you could buy yourself a proper phone shove an mp3 on it and use it as your ringtone...

  6.9.2009 07:03 #1

• arcanix

  Quote:Quote:users can buy tracks from iTunes and pay an additional 99c to get a 30 second clip of the track to use as a ringtone.
  Quote:Even in iTunes already, you can cut a track up to 40 seconds, save it as AAC (results in file with m4a extension) and just change its extension to .m4r, open with iTunes and then sync ringtones to iPhone. Or you could buy yourself a proper phone shove an mp3 on it and use it as your ringtone...My thoughts exactly.

  6.9.2009 10:04 #2

• Ryoohki

  I think only a truly lazy bastard would bother purchasing a pre-made ringtone instead of making their own. You can't hate apple though since they are just trying to cash in on ringtones just like everybody else.

  6.9.2009 10:57 #3

• lamain

  Quote:I think only a truly lazy bastard would bother purchasing a pre-made ringtone instead of making their own. You can't hate apple though since they are just trying to cash in on ringtones just like everybody else.
  Just like everybody else? I have not had a phone in years that would not let me put any MP3 as my ringtone. I will admit though that this is a consideration of mine before buying the phone.

  6.9.2009 14:22 #4

• wabashman

  or there are about a million free apps that you can use to create a ringtone and it will export it into itunes in the proper format and all you have to do is sync your phone and your done with it. just a bunch of lazy stupid people that done know how to do anything for themselves.

  6.9.2009 14:32 #5

• lamain

  It is just one of the few ways that the iPhone is not user friendly.

  6.9.2009 14:34 #6

• 21Q

  I don't understand who in their right mind would pay a whole dollar or more just for a ring tone? Just doesn't make sense unless you have money to burn.

  6.9.2009 19:04 #7

• ZeusAV

  I've been making my own ringtones from my music collection since I've had an iPhone. It's a very easy process. I guess for those who couldn't be bothered to figure out how to do it on their own this is a good deal.

  7.9.2009 08:52 #8

• SProdigy

  Originally posted by 21Q: I don't understand who in their right mind would pay a whole dollar or more just for a ring tone? Just doesn't make sense unless you have money to burn.I know one of those people. They send out texts similar to "Hello World" and probably think that Hollywood is dishing out the best movies this time of year, like Saw 85 and other horror junk.
  
  Don't laugh, these fools exist, and if I were Apple, I'd take their money too. It's like stealing candy from a baby.

  7.9.2009 10:24 #9

• barryblue

  Originally posted by ZeusAV: I've been making my own ringtones from my music collection since I've had an iPhone. It's a very easy process. I guess for those who couldn't be bothered to figure out how to do it on their own this is a good deal.hi,,my girlfriend has an iphone but cant put ringtones on it,,,i did a few for her ,but is there an easy waay of doing this,,,thanks

  8.10.2009 13:37 #10