Using your own MP3s as Ringtones

Many new cell phone users purchased their 'holy grail' with the seemingly normal expectation that they could use their own purchased or downloaded mp3s as custom ringtones on their cell phones; but Rogers and other cell service providers across the world have other ideas.

I recently purchased a Nokia 5310 xpress music from Rogers anticipating the entertainment from setting different songs to my contacts when they call. Much to my surprise, when I attempted to do so with mp3s I had bought or downloaded on my computer, the phone simply said, "cannot set as ringtone." What's this, I said, this can't be right, but after some quick searching on the web's forums and a reply from Nokia, I found the problem.


The Bad News About MP3s and New Cell Phones

The phone was fine, but it was the software that Rogers had installed that prevented users from using mp3s that were not purchased through their online mobile stores, from being used as ringtones. Of course I was mad and fuming like any other consumer would be that even songs I purchased could not be used. Why should I have to pay twice for a song just to use it as a ringtone?

So I looked around some more but found more questions than answers, and of course a lot of bad solutions. Wave files? I don't think so, you'd have to degrade the quality and have a super short clip due to the file size. How about wma files? Nope, don't think so, way too big to set as a ringtone. So I looked around until I found some suggestions of using the AWR format, but then some complaints about quality. Finally, I found Eufony, my all in one audio converter which had tons of formats to choose from, and guess what? I found one!


The Right Format for MP3s

The AWB format which you can convert an mp3 into using eufony is allowed to be set as a ringtone by phones which block mp3s as ringtones. At the same time, the file remains tremendously small, allowing one to put as much of their song to ring as they'd like.

Using Audacity, I cut my songs down to clips which are my favorites and then I convert them to AWB format using Eufony.

Just remember that some songs may not be that loud, so you may have to boost them using Audacity before you convert them so you have a loud and clear clip on your phone.

I hope I've helped all those who couldn't find a solution or had to go through painful DRM packing and endless formats to try out different methods.

And to you, Mr.Ted Rogers, and every other company that does this to their cell phone users, firstly, hah, we beat you again, and secondly, shame on you, how would you like it if you paid for food twice. Once to eat it in your kitchen and once on a picnic. (ok, bad analogy, or whatever it's called, but you get my point)

Written By: Corrado Cioci

Published: July 31st, 2008