Archive for June, 2007

Itunes to charge for Itunes ringtones ?

Mac Rumours is reporting that Apple plans to charge users 99cents to convert MP3’s into a 30 second extract for use as ringtones. The scary bit is

Reportedly, the new version of iTunes will allow you to convert any song that is available on iTunes into a ringtone with the “Make into Ringtone” feature. The cost for this service is $.99. It’s not clear, based on information available, whether or not CD-ripped songs can also be easily converted or this is specifically an iTunes Store feature.

I’m hoping Apple has seen the light and allows users to sideload their own mp3’s as ringtones.

Iphone goes for Sideloading

Just about everywhere is reporting that the only option for getting ringtones onto the soon to be released Apple Iphone is via sideloading with Itunes.

I love it.

I’m conjecturing that Apple’s idea is to push more business through it’s Itunes store. That’s not a bad thing. Itunes store charges $0.99 for most tracks where as the carriers and other ringtone providers are charging $2.50 or more to get a single tune as a ringtone. (don’t get me started on the services that charge five bucks plus a week to subscribe)

The hype surrounding the Iphone is going to make a major impact on the phone market in the US where it is due to be released on 29th June. The carry through from that is the industry is going to realise people will be saving themselves a fortune by not being ripped off every time they want to put a new ringtone on their phone so more phones will be released with sideloading features.

I figure that by the time we have gone through the product cycle another 1-2 times there won’t be a cell phone that doesn’t offer sideloading and it will kill the ringtone market as we know it.