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"What does Ringtone mean?"

by Eric Bernatchez
for About.com

Definition: Ringtone refers to a variety of sound effects and melodies used to alert a phone owner of an incoming call. Ringtones can be a sound effect, a monophonic melody made of similar tones, polyphonic melodies made of various instruments or even an actual song, in the form of MP3 music. Most manufacturers design their phones so that users can not only choose from many musical ringtones but also program their own for a very personalized ringtone and, in other cases, ringtones can be downloaded through a WAP connection.

However, be cautious when you buy a phone, not all phones let you add programmable ringtones for free, in a do-it-yourself manner. Some lock that function. So before buying a phone, check The Ringtones FAQ for the most recent compatibility list.

Alternate Spellings: Mobile Melody, Ringing Tone,

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