Apple to offer ready-made ringtones

Apple has obtained the rights to offer ready-made ringtones for the iPhone and managers are trying to have them available in time for next week's press conference, music industry sources told CNET News.

Owners of Apple's iPhone have long had the ability to create custom-made ringtones for their devices. The new music snippets are mainly a convenience, as they make it possible for iPhone owners to obtain a pre-cut ringtone instead of having to create their own.

Apple will announce the ringtones on September 9, the day the company has scheduled a press event, if managers can get them ready in time to sell, the sources said. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.

At the event, Apple is expected to roll out a new digital album cover codenamed Cocktail. There are also persistent rumors that upgraded iPods will also debut. Because Apple has scheduled the event for a Wednesday, instead of the company's preference to make announcements on Tuesdays, there is speculation that there could finally be an announcement that a Beatles catalog is coming to iTunes. September 9 is also the day the Beatles' remastered digital albums and Rock Band video game will be released.

As for ringtones, they have been a boon to the music industry. In the past, consumers have shown a willingness to pay as much as $3 to hear a few seconds of a favorite song when receiving an incoming call.

For that reason, ringtones have offered music labels and retailers better profit margins full song downloads, which typically sell for between 79 cents and $1.29. My sources didn't know what Apple will sell the ringtones but said they expected them to go for far less than $3.

Whatever price Apple chooses, there are those that say the ringtone craze is in decline. SNL Kagan, a research firm, issued a report earlier this month that said ringtone sales dropped from $714 million in 2007 to $541 million in 2008, or 24 percent.

That was the first time mobile music registered overall sales decline, according to Kagan. Part of the reason for the drop off, according to the research firm was that consumers have learned to create their own ringtones out of downloads.

Sites such as Makeownringtone.com allow users to upload a song in MP3, WMA or other formats, choose the section of song they want, remix their music selection, and upload the finished product to their phones.

[Khaled A.]

that would be a boring announcement

[SIGHUP]

Just wait until Apple's marketing department put their spin on it.

[jaguar717]

Introducing the new, never before seen iTones!

Just install our proprietary program, and you'll have literally HUNDREDS of songs available. 3.99 apiece, or 5 for 18.99! Each iTone will last the FULL remaining length of your service contract before expiring!

And the best part? Since they're available in Apple's new 32kbps "Compressed Lossless"(TM) format, they're compatible with your other favorite Apple products (includes iPod Touch and PowerMacs running Snow Leopard only, limit 2 devices per iTone).

So just subscribe, download, install, add device, format drive, update, link accounts, select file, sync device, and YOU TOO can be enjoying the same hit iTones as your friends in no time!

[ckh1272]

@jaguar717--You should be an analyst. Then you can be officially wrong like all the other "analysts". Maybe Piper and Jaffray are looking for help with being wrong.

[dragonsky1]

I'm pretty sure there will be some sort of upgrade or changes to the Ipod, even if not that drastic. A lot of electronics retailers have been having trouble getting the current model as supplies are low.

[flickrz]

And all idiot fanboys will be ready to shell out their parents' $$ to Steve Jobs's coffers.

[jag0]

Yup...

Excellent, I could use a few more shillings from my Apple stock

[ckh1272]

@flickrz--And how is that different form the millions of people who pay $3 a pop for a snippet of a song on every other service in the U.S.?? Oh, you only want to rag on Apple, I guess. My bad. Continue with your trolling.

[Yellow_Tiger]

It won't be long before even fanboys realize that the shanzhai stuff coming out of China gives them the same experience they're looking for without Mom having to get an extra job. Apple's pricing is coming down soon whether they like it or not - hard to compete with imitation products with better specs that go for US$1.90

http://tinyurl.com/lhlnsd

[tektaktyks]

now,what kind of idiot would pay for a ringtone?especially if u can make your own ringtones for free with iphone ringtone maker or some other software?

[ikramerica--2008]

You can make them with iTunes for free.
Use the conversion option to convert the song to .m4v (set the import settings to this format first). Rename it something shorter you want.
To decide which section of the song (up to 30 seconds) is the ringtone you want, first listen to it and decide the section, then get info about the song and set the start and stop times based on your decision.
Then drag it to the desktop.
Change the extension to .m4r and then you can drag it back onto iTunes.
Will go right onto your phone next time you sync.
Doesn't take much work.

[ikramerica--2008]

forgot you have to delete the .m4v from your library before you drag the .m4r back.

[ckh1272]

@tektaktyks---Now does that statement apply to all cell phone users who buy ringtones, or just the Apple "fanboys"? Be careful though. Your bias might show.

[ckh1272]

@tektaktyks--Just so you know, I do agree with the "why buy a ringtone, when it's free part". It is pretty freakin' pointless.

[tektaktyks]

it applies to all cell phone users.

[Dan7637]

wow you guys are seriosuly immature if you have to insult people because they buy a ringtone and call them fanboys because they choose to use itunes or mock apple

[ywkhgqo]

sounds like somebody's made a few iTunes ringtones in the past

[Seaspray0]

Is this why they are holding a big press conference? You've gotta be kidding me!

[Perry_Clease]

"by Seaspray0 September 2, 2009 8:08 PM PDT
Is this why they are holding a big press conference? You've gotta be kidding me!"

Apple issued a press release about it, read it here

http://www.apple.com/pr/

Ringtones, all the hoopla is just about ring tones, and no I am not kidding you, go read Apple's press release webpage.

[sting7k]

Music as ringtones are so 2004...

[Vegaman_Dan]

Introducing ringtones as a feature is a bit... after the fact, late to the game, etc. It will generate money, but I'm not sure it will be enough to cover the licensing fees they'll have to pay to the music groups.

I can make a ringtone of any track in 30 seconds on my iPhone. That's faster than it would take me to browse through iTunes and download / install it. Eh... don't think this is news.

[Martinpong]

Seems odd for Apple to make a preset ringtone push this late in the game. The market is in decline and people are using products like Sharetones to get ringtones to their iPhones for free.

[robert_heath]

"Because Apple has scheduled the event for a Wednesday, instead of the company's preference to make announcements on Tuesdays, there is speculation that there could finally be an announcement that a Beatles catalog is coming to iTunes."

Or maybe they just figured that since Monday is a national holiday, Wednesday might be more convenient for people.