What next for the not so humble mobile ringtone? Buzz grows over next-generation ringtones at Mobile Entertainment Market, despite piracy and quality questions

New Media Age, June, 2004 by Justin Pearse

Ringtone piracy and cover versions were two of the key areas of debate at last week's Mobile Entertainment Market (MEM) show at London's Business Design Centre.

In the week that saw the launch of the first ringtone chart, produced in association with MEM co-host the Mobile Entertainment Forum. it was fitting that most of the discussion at the mobile music track of the event centred around the humble ringtone--or, as speakers were at pains to point out, not so humble, as it morphs into what the industry hopes will be even more lucrative formats such as truetones and ringback tones.

A survey last week from Alatto Technologies found that 37% of 15-49-year-olds said they would subscribe to a ringback tone service. At MEM, the first and biggest provider of...