It is a veritable litany of the most sought after cell phone accessories or functions available today, all described under the single category of ringtones. Cell Phone Tones, iPhone Ringtones, Free iPhone Ringtones, if those actually exist, other cell phone tones, the magic of "Free Cell Phone Tones" where they exist. And then, of course, the new "gold standard" in this strange and volatile new economy: ringback tones and fat chance, the ever elusive "free ringback tones."



Cell phone tones are those curious, personalized, iconic indicators of one's musical essence, which when attached to the users cell phone, describes him or her both musically and to a "T" or is it to a "tee?" Alternately, attached to the person being called they might convey a key musical phrase, a song title, or simply a soundbite with the right beat, which, if you are not using too many of them, may help you recall, the person calling you. The truth, in most instances, may be closer to the fact at the cell phone user simply likes his music, rather than some of the annoying ringing tones ma bell has forced on us all in the past.

Unfortunately, for the cell phone user, individuality in the selection of musical tones allows the cell phone company the ability to charge for a new service, one that was previously free. Technically, I guess the service is still free, if one doesn't mind being aggravated by the awkward ringing tones provided free. But just go try to get some free ring back tones from your local carrier. Tell Verizon you want free cell phone tones. On the other hand, as many parents can tell you, paying for those wonderful ring tones in order to hear Eminem or Fifty Cent ramble through a string of profanity in order to talk to your kid loses its charm very quickly in spite of whatever degree of independence the music may foster within your child.

Way back in the 1950s, Marshall McLuhan, the metaphysician of mass media, predicted the world will become a global village and that many of the various mediums of communications we use would impose themselves into the message they were devised to convey. McLuhan described television as a participatory medium whereby as people filled in the spaces between the dots on the screen; they became so involved within the medium itself as too often lose the message. Cell phones may now have taken McLuhan's message to a new medium, or for that matter to a new high.