Mobile ringtones that are most popular with women

United States of America (Press Release) January 17, 2008 -- A closer look at the recent trends within the mobile phone industry reveals the concentrated efforts of manufacturers and content providers alike to consistently develop products and services to specifically cater to the female segment. Motorola’s most stylish offering the MotoRazr and the subsequent others in the series have been packaged and promoted in a manner that would undoubtedly attract the female attention. Handset casings of colours such as metallic pink, and deep purple (in the case of Sony Ericson); clearly make a statement of the audience they are trying to reach out to. It is also worth nothing that such handsets are promoted as limited edition pieces, and made available only in certain markets across the world that are known to have extremely fashion conscious women consumers.

This brings us to discuss the case in point of women consumers' preferences when it comes to mobile phone handsets and their need for the same. Although a recent research carried out in the United Kingdom reveals that close to 60 per cent of women claim to be unable to live without their mobile phones; in spite of the repeated aggressive efforts of marketers their usage of the mobile phones' value added services is very low. What is it then that women use their mobile phones so frequently for? The answer seems to lie in the fact that women are believed to, contrary to popular belief, use their handsets mainly for the most basic and much needed functions such as making and receiving calls, and text messaging.

Probing a little further into understanding their usage of additional value added services, it has been revealed by the recent reports, that approximately 60 per cent of women are likely to send picture messages, and a fair proportionate of women roughly being around 50 per cent, download mobile phone ring tones often. And what is it that this very obviously hard to please group likes to download? Several researchers have closely studied the demographics and psychographics of this segment to understand what their preferences might be like. Studies show that working women with a family, traveling over long distances prefer to make use of that time socializing over the phone with their friends and family. This extremely pressed for time target group is more likely to indulge in making a list of their chores, shopping list, et al. True to their tastes, it is more likely that they will have a mobile phone ring tone that reflects their personal choices more than their personality. This can be explained further by quoting examples of their choice of viewing on the tube which could be Desperate Housewives, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, et al, and therefore it wouldn’t be a surprise if their mobile phone ring tones are soundtracks of these television programs. Likewise they are also more likely to download the OST ring tones of movies that appeal to their senses, and probably deal with their real life problems, than the ring tone of Shrek 3. They are also more likely to have a common ring tone for all their callers and one that is loud and clear.

Another segment within the female target audience, a slightly younger generation that is working or/and at university is more likely to go in for a mobile phone ring tone that reflects their personality and helps them to make a style statement to their peers and colleagues. It is extremely important for this generation to make a mark for themselves and stand out in the crowd. Hip – hop, according to experts, is the unanimous choice for this group, followed by rock. Recent reports have declared Singtones emerging as an extremely popular preference for this group, owing to this group’s willingness to experiment with novelty.

Women, out of habit, are undoubtedly enjoying all the attention, but what remains to be seen is to what extent the manufacturers would go to woo these ladies and encourage their indulgence in the value added services that would mean more revenue for them.