| Mobile phone ring tones have undergone a | | | | subscription contract. This is just one of the signs of |
| metamorphosis of sorts and its incessant evolutions | | | | children and teenager's donning the role of aggressive |
| have always ensured that they hog reams of | | | | consumers. Add to this the fact that opportunist mobile |
| newsprint and web space. In an attempt to live up to | | | | phone manufacturers are tapping into the latent needs |
| its reputation the media have time and again been | | | | of this relatively untargeted group to promote their |
| successful in glorifying the status of these mobile | | | | handsets with the latest technological services bundled. |
| phone 'must haves' and the sources through which | | | | The hype created by the marketers themselves |
| they can be acquired. | | | | around mobile phone ring tones, only adds to this |
| Several websites have been dedicated to this | | | | group's fascination of the ring tone. |
| technological innovation, with websites offering pre - | | | | Researchers and tracking experts have touted festive |
| composed ring tones of famous tracks along with an | | | | seasons, in particular, an interesting period for the |
| opportunity for the users to compose their own tracks | | | | marketing of ring tones for children. Some of the all |
| with the help of user friendly software available at | | | | time favorite ring tones during the festive season, as |
| almost a negligible cost. Certain softwares that | | | | reported, are Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Jingle |
| attempt to offer more creative freedom to the users | | | | Bells, Holy Night, Frosty the Snowman, et al. What's |
| allow for carefully slicing certain portions of sound | | | | more, children opt for remixed and rock versions of |
| tracks desired as ring tones, thereby making them | | | | these famous songs so as to aptly meet their tastes. |
| compatible to download as ring tones on to the mobile | | | | Mobile phone ring tones have off lately also emerged |
| devices. | | | | as a strong promotional tool for marketers of products, |
| Mobile phone ring tones from websites can be | | | | services, and entertainment. Producers of movies |
| downloaded using wireless technologies such as WAP, | | | | targeted at children and teenagers, along with their |
| GPRS, Bluetooth, Infra - red, et al for a nominal cost. | | | | OST's release, also make freely available specifically |
| Downloads through mobile phone operators usually | | | | composed mobile phone ring tones of the film's popular |
| come at a slightly higher cost and are more often than | | | | soundtracks. By ensuring that their target audience has |
| not a rude surprise especially to parents who are | | | | an easy access to these ring tones, they are only |
| footing the bill for their teenagers' phones. As per | | | | making sure that there is no wastage of message by |
| several recent reports there have been several cases | | | | communicating directly with their audience. Children, as |
| in the consumer courts of the world of the terms and | | | | per reports, have known to have taken very well to |
| conditions imprints being too fine and therefore being | | | | the ring tones of Mickey Mouse and the Gang, Alvin |
| overlooked by children and teenagers who have only | | | | and the Chipmunks, Pixar, et al. |
| too happily jumped on to the bandwagon of | | | | With parents being non - hesitant about giving their |
| downloading the latest mobile phone ring tones from | | | | children mobile phone handsets, and marketers and |
| easily accessible sources. And this is more so when | | | | web site promoters making sure they overcome |
| they are initially misled to believe that the ring tone(s) | | | | every hurdle to reach their little audiences, there is an |
| are going to cost them just a small amount, whilst the | | | | urgent need for a regulatory body to step in to the |
| marketers have carefully hidden the fact that in an | | | | scene to guide these young consumers and prevent |
| attempt to download a ring tone even once, the young | | | | them from being misguided. |
| consumers are actually entering into a monthly | | | | |