It looks like ATT has finally listened to parents’ call to be able to have more control over their Family Plans. Smart Limits is an optional feature priced at $4.99/month which allows parents to limit minutes, messaging, and access to premium content such as ringtones on a phone number by phone number basis.
Just because this picture is so great. Somehow I still don’t believe that is what really happened. I would, but the blogger doesn’t link to any of his sources…(and I hate when that happens…I’ll bring all my glasses and my shoes so I have them…)
I’ve tried to refrain from participating in the iPhone hype; but there are some things I can’t resist. The iPhone has been criticized since day 1 for not allowing custom ringtones. for Looking at the video, hackers have figured out a way to load custom ringtones onto an iPhone.
BTW, I think the iPhone is an amazing, idiot-proof device. Apple “made” computers easy to use and now they have done the same with phones. If you read this blog you probably are an uber-phone-nerd. The iPhone is best suited for the 90% of mobile users who don’t want to learn how to use a phone, and don’t care about having a ringtone for every contact. Give a Blackberry and an iPhone to your mother who may or may not know a lick about cell phones; nor cares. Smart money would bet that she prefers the iPhone.
Mac Rumors reports that the next version of iTunes may include a ringtone creator tool.
iTunes 7.3 is listed as a requirement for the iPhone but has not yet been released by Apple. Reportedly, the new version of iTunes will allow you to convert any song that is available on iTunes into a ringtone with the “Make into Ringtone” feature. The cost for this service is $.99, however. It’s not clear based on information available whether or not CD-ripped songs can also be easily converted or this is specifically an iTunes Store feature.
If true, surely this will be a feature for iPhone users. How close are they to making this available for all phone users. We all know Apple is the number one seller of digital music; what if they become the biggest ringtone seller as well? Will the labels love/hate these sales too? Will the carriers see the revenue and give in too?
UPDATE: I misstated the facts. Apparently the $.99 ringtone is an additional fee after having already purchased the music via iTunes.
InformationWeek writes about a new Samsung report describing some of the habits of cellphone savvy women.
Young women are super savvy at using all the facets of a mobile phone to enhance their lives. When women want to flirt, they’ll send a text message. When they need to avoid a stalker, they will fake technical difficulties. And more than a handful said they wouldn’t date a man who had a big, bulky cell phone. I guess size matters in more ways than one.
Some more juicy details (from this exhaustive 500 person survey)…
Average number of cell phone contacts: 63
Looks at cellphone instead of watch: 74%
Experienced “text shame” (where they sent a text they regretted the next day): 39%
Barack Obama has launched an SMS service to support his presidential campaign. He’s made it easy to join: People just send “Go” to OBAMA (62262)…ah, the benefit of a five-letter name.
The service will keep voters apprised of campaign events such as local appearances and other important campaign updates. Also if you are so inclined, you can download free ringtones and wallpapers like this one:
