Preferred Voice Inc. notched its second carrier win with the announcement that it will provide ringback services for Oklahoma regional carrier Panhandle Telephone Cooperative.
Ringbacks allow subscribers to choose music clips that callers hear instead of the traditional ring before a phone is answered. PVI said Panhandle will begin offering the service in the first quarter of 2005.
PVI helped launch the nation’s first ringback service with First Cellular of Southern Illinois in October. Since then, T-Mobile USA launched a nationwide service, and Verizon Wireless began offering ringbacks in some California markets.
U.S. carriers are hoping to duplicate the success ringbacks have had in some Asian markets, where some operators report increased average revenue per user of more than $2 due to the service.
“Ringbacks are taking off like wildfire in the U.S., and I expect them to be the hottest new product in 2005 and demonstrate the greatest growth,” said Latif Nathani, PVI’s chief executive officer.
Meanwhile, Lagarde Active North America subsidiary BlingTones launched what it called the “world’s first wireless record label.” The company has signed hip-hop stars, including Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, Eminem and Snoop Dogg to create original 30-second ringtones created specifically for handsets.
BlingTones will offer the tunes, as well as urban-themed screen savers and wallpaper, through carriers Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless L.L.C., Nextel Communications Inc. and Boost Mobile. The company said it hopes to add more artists and carriers next year.
