] Ring tones are so yesterday. If wireless companies have
] their way, the next multibillion dollar surprise in the
] cellular business will be "Ringback" tones.
]
] Instead of the usual dialing noise which people hear when
] phoning someone, callers to Verizon Wireless subscribers
] may soon find themselves listening to a song until the
] phone is answered.
]
] The service, pioneered by SK Telecom of Korea, is now
] debuting in California and is slated to be available
] nationally by mid-2005.

Clever. Before, you advertised to a crowd how hip you were with your obnoxious ring. Now, you can advertise to your callers.

Is it weird that I would consider this more than ringtones? I like that I have a minimalistic and superfunctional ring(+vibrate); if I could find a more "effective" or functional ringback tone (something that communicated something more useful than the existing), why not?

'Ringback' tones: Next big cellular thing, or throwback to long answering machine messages? - 11/29/04