Rings, ring signals, or what could be considered the call signals that are the predecessors of ringtones date back to the beginnings of telephony. However, modern ringtones as we know them today first appeared in the 1960s and have since evolved into a wide variety of melodies and customizable tones. This fascinating technology began in 2001 when the first ringtone was sold in Finland. At the time, teenagers in Finland were already using mobile SMS (short messaging service) technology and had become accustomed to typing and sending short text messages back and forth.
Vesa Matti Paananen then sought to expand mobile phone services by introducing the concept of selling ringtones. This business has since grown to the point where customers can now download personalized ringtones for a small fee, including wallpapers, screen savers, and even original recordings of musical artists. Ringtones are now available in all forms of music, depending on different themes, culture, and consumer mood. To commemorate this momentous occasion in music history, let's take a look at some of the most popular ringtones of the time with a special playlist.
The musical passage that would become one of the most listened to pieces in the world was made available on Nokia devices due to its status as being in the public domain. Francisco Tárrega had been dead for about 80 years when they sampled his song as a ringtone. Service providers earned a share of sales and largely controlled distribution, while the music industry charged licensing fees for ringtones based on popular songs. Innovation produces creativity, and mobile ringtones are the best example of this. A new Billboard ringtone list listed the most popular songs, with “In Da Club” by 50 Cent taking home Billboard's first Ringtone of the Year award in 2004.
