Brits to Spend Over US$7,000 on Ringtones Over 15 Years"
The British youth of today will spend on average US$7,765 on downloading ringtones to their mobile phones over the next 15 years, according to new research from Xingtone. A poll of over 1,000 people aged 10-25 years by Xingtone has dissected the ringtone habits of the UK. It's official - girls are the ones most hooked by the craze, with 85% of those surveyed saying that they download ringtones regularly. Surprisingly only 60% of boys are taking advantage of the technology. The girls most hooked are aged between 10-14 years, with two out of three (65%) downloading at least six ringtones per month. Although lagging behind, boys are still downloading two ringtones on average per month.
Of those surveyed by Xingtone, 60% would prefer to create their own ringtone rather than download an off-the-shelf one, highlighting a growing trend towards personalisation. Xingtone, naturally is a company that develops DIY ringtone software.
Richard Miles, European Managing Director, Xingtone comments: "Xingtone is all about allowing people to download and develop their own ringtones - it's about mixing and matching and creating your own personal statement at affordable prices."
Ringtone Rogues
On a more serious note, of those surveyed by Xingtone, 75% were concerned about hidden costs of ringtone purchases, with 58% fearful of being tied into a ringtone club. A total of 36% reported being ripped off by providers at least once. Complaints ranged from being overcharged to receiving costly or inferior quality ringtones, such as polyphonics. Richard Miles, European Managing Director, Xingtone comments: "With the ringtone market predicted to increase by 161% in the next five years there is a call for transparency as pricing is becoming a hot consumer issue."
Laura Williams, nurse from London commented: "My sister has been ripped off by a certain ringtone company and she ended up unknowingly signed up to a club with a huge mobile phone bill at the end of the first month. She's now a lot more wary of which services she uses."
Hazel Jones, mother from London commented: "My daughter loves to have her favourite tune as her ringtone on her mobile phone. I am fearful that she is too trusting of companies, especially after everything that's been in the news."
Sounds of the City versus UK Suburbs
There are also vast regional differences in take up of the ringtone craze. Xingtone's findings show people living in large cities or towns (72%) are the ones most likely to take up the trend and are more tech savvy than their counterparts living further out. However there was more take up in Scotland (26%), Wales (23%) and North (21%) with London (18%), following closely behind and Midlands coming up last (12%)."
Posted to the site on 28th October 2005