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Do-It-Yourself Cell Phone Users Not Standing Ringside

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 27, 2007

In a booming ringtone market that's becoming increasingly individualized, millions of subscribers have learned to reach beyond the traditional wireless catalog - and bypass a per-song charge that's ventured into the $3-per-song neighborhood.

Armed with a cell phone, computer and free audio editing software, users can customize ringtones from their personal music collection. The process takes no more than 15 minutes.

"I've never bought ringtones," said Eddie Turner, a 25-year-old neighborhood coordinator with North Avenue Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Turner said annoying default ringtones drove him to the Internet to figure out a way to make his own.

Business, Page 1

•Nearly 18 million people made their own ringtones in October, according to Seattle-based mobile consultant M:Metrics. An estimated 20 million purchased ringtones that same month, the firm said.

•Enter "make your own ringtones" in a search engine and you'll find several sites with a tutorial. If your cell phone plays MP3s - most do - these clips can be uploaded to your mobile handset.

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