Phone lovin': The popular trend of phone customization

By:Philip Nicosia

One of the most popular pastimes and hobbies of a big majority of mobile phone owners are customizing their phones. Personalizing a mobile phone has grown into a multi-billion dollar business worldwide. People are willing to pay for themes, wallpapers, casings, and various types of ringtones in order to make their mobile phones stand out from the rest. They even buy various accessories, charms and nifty little holders to complete their phone’s look.

What compels people to spend money just to customize a piece of electronic equipment?

One of the most compelling reasons that have been forwarded by researchers regarding the obsession with mobile phone customization is that mobile phones have the capability to be contextual. Because of its portability, people can carry mobile phones wherever they go. They can bring it to a business meeting, to a date, into movies, on a vacation, even to church – it has become a permanent fixture of our daily lives. This pervasive nature of mobile phones and “ready at hand” characteristic can make people establish a certain bond with their mobile phones. This “connection” can be manifested in personalizing their mobile phones because they have begun to see this electronic equipment as an entity that is always there for them.

Another possible reason for the growing phone customization trend is with regards to the special relationship that people establish with their mobile phones. As previously mentioned, people carry their phones in almost any imaginable place, it is a constant companion to them. It becomes a natural progression of this close proximity for people to start customizing their phones to reflect their personality, mood or disposition. Putting a fashion statement is also a part of this. They want their phones to a more sartorial compliment to their wardrobes. For example, fashion conscious women would opt to change the faceplate of their phones to a color that would better match their clothes. There is even a new line of Nokia phones that are specifically aimed at “fashionistas” – complete with tasteful leather or cloth trimmings and firmer emphasis on style more than function.

Another reason that has been cited for the phone customization fad could be the simplest but no less valid – that mobile phones have become a status symbol. Much like having the latest and most popular pair of shoes – having the latest model mobile phone is a sure way of getting noticed and being acknowledged as being part of the “in” crowd. Of course, the more personalized your phone gets, the more “in” you become. For example, Paris Hilton, in an effort to both stand out and flaunt her wealth, had her mobile phone encrusted with many semi-precious stones. By doing so, she has made the ultimate personal statement and elevated the “status symbol” of mobile phones to a new level.

But for whatever reasons people may decide to personalize their mobile phones, one thing is very important. As long as you are having fun tinkering with your mobile phone’s appearance and that you are not making anything offensive to other people then go ahead and personalize to your heart’s content.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: ringtones, polyphonic ringtones, true tones and mp3 ringtones.

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Philip Nicosia is the webmaster of Ringtones.lt, a site specialising in the different genres of ringtones, Including polyphonic ringtones, true tones and mp3 ringtones.

Top Cell Phones Articles
1). Cell Phone Buying Guide to Help You Get the Best Value For The Money By : David Arnold Livingston Whether it's your first or umpteenth mobile phone you are planning to buy, knowing or being reminded of the following tips will surely better your chances of getting the perfect one.
2). Has The Crazy Frog Gone Psycho? By : Philip Nicosia A mobile phone rings. You listen. It’s not an MP3 tune of the latest hit. Neither it is the tone that imitates the natural and man-made sounds you hear in a setting. You discern voices, but they’re not names tones nor are they famous lines from popular movies or TV series. If so, then this has to be it. This has to be the latest craze that they are talking about.
3). MP3 Ringtones – Inject your own grove into your daily grind. By : Philip Nicosia Mobile phones have become one of the most prominent status symbols. It has gone beyond a mere tool to make and receive calls. It’s an expression of identity; a fashion statement; and with Mp3 ringtones, a way of injecting your own groove into your daily grind. An Mp3 is a compressed audio file. For years, music lovers have exchanged these files on the Internet, playing them on their PCs or from dedicated Mp3 players.
4). Motorola V3 im Razr mobile the ultimate iTunes mobile Phone By : dave4 Yet another Motorola mobile handset destined for mobile phone stardom, the Motorola V3im a quad band mobile phone, with all the features you would expect from a motorola mobile phone plus more, in particular Apple iTunes®. Motorola mobiles typically have a good history with cool modern sleek designed mobile phones, The V3 by Motorola is no different a great mobile phone with memory expansion for Micro SD formerly Transflash, GPRS for mobile internet a 2 Meg Motorola camera & a range of other mobile features from MMS to Polyphonic ring tones.
5). Knowing the difference between Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans Will Save You Time and Money By : Declan Tobin Many people go looking for cell phones without too much emphasis being put on the cell phone plans. Many new users who sign up to the different networks have been sold to rather than choosing the best option the suits them. Research is important. Cell phones & plans can be an expensive commodity. Types of Cell Phones: ·Camera Cell Phone ·PDA Cell Phone ·GPS Cell Phone The cell phone itself is not an ongoing expensive.
6). How To Get A Great Deal On A New Cellphone By : Charles M. Morelli If you're in the market for a new cellphone, now is a great time to go shopping. Cellular carriers and resellers are constantly offering special offers. Some companies offer free cellphones (after rebates), calling plans with thousands of minutes, etc. With all these ads, where do you start? You can go to a local wireless store and see the latest makes and models.
7). Sony Ericsson W810i Mobile Phone By : dave4 The Sony Ericsson W810 is a Quad-band EDGE phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), and enables users to transfer their legacy CD collection or access operator music download services, while staying connected to friends, family and business colleagues anywhere in the world. The Sony Ericsson W810 offers the latest in mobile multi-media functionality by taking advantage of high speed data downloads; listen to hours of music, capture and send high-resolution mega pixel images, access the Internet and stay connected through instant messaging or email.
8). Guide to Cell Phone Ringtones By : Sandra Stammberger Ringtones for cell phones are a huge business. The majority of cell phone owners have a number of ringtones that they can choose from that come supplied with their cell phone. This enables everyone to personalize the sounds that their phone emits when they receive a phone call or a text message on their phone. However, many people do not like, or get bored quickly with these ringtones and look for something a little more interesting.
9). Ringtones – Where Did Those Tones Come From? By : Dave Carter These days cell phones are ubiquitous – almost everybody has one. But with this popularity came a great deal of confusion, with everyone in the room reaching for his or her phone when the ringtone sounded loud and clear. Combine this with our contradictory human desire to be different while fitting in, and you have the perfect backdrop against which the development of the myriad ringtones available today took place.
10). Have Fun With Mobile Phones By : George Williams Mobile phones become fashion now like cloths. They are not used for entertainment only, but also used as a fashion accessory. Everything about the phone has changed - its size, shape and colour too. It’s appropriate then that the dial tone can be changed to play your favorite tune. Simply log on to the appropriate website and click on your choice. But more than that, mobile phones also perform a variety of other functions.

New Cell Phones Articles
1). All The Secrets About Getting The Right Plan For You By : Dane Stanton Find out everything there is to know about the different types of cell phone plans on the market today. Should you go on a plan or are you more suited for prepaid? Find out this and more in this comprehensive article...
2). Why You Must Read The PDA Review Before Buying A PDA By : Gregg Hall There is now an easier way to keep track of all the things we need to accomplish, called a PDA. They keep track of all the things we have to do, so our day can be better organized. The best place to find the right one for you is the PDA review.
3). Crazy New Cell Phone Ring Tones By : Kip Goldhammer Cell phones have been in vogue for the past 15 years or so, and have today become the most inseparable tool to professionals and businessmen alike.
4). Mobile Phones - Complex Choices And How to Navigate Through Them By : Dan Sherman Most of us buying a mobile phone are often confused by the bewildering choice of phones and price plans. Although more choice keeps prices low, too much choice confuses consumer more than being helpful. There has to be an easy way to sift through thousands of deals to find the one that suits your lifestyle. Yes there is. Read on...
5). How To Use A PDA Cell Phone To Reduce Stress And Organize Your Life By : Gregg Hall Do you stress over trying to remember schedules and appointments? Do you need to be able to access the internet on the road for email or information? If, so you consider getting one of the new PDA cell phones that are now available.
6). Nokia N80 is Best Mobile Phone Imaging Device 2006 By : dave4 Nokia today revealed that the Nokia N80 multimedia computer has been voted the Best Mobile Imaging Device in Europe 2006 by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), the largest photo and imaging press association in Europe. The award is an endorsement of the Nokia N80's industry-leading feature set, which makes it one of the most high performance devices currently available in the marketplace.
7). The Growing Trend of Comparing Shopping on Your Mobile Phone By : Michael Brito We live in a world where we can do just about anything from a computer; chat with people in other countries, trade stocks, visit exotic locations that would never be seen otherwise; rent DVDs, and of course engage in the growing trend of comparison shopping. The Internet is gaining in popularity at an exponential rate and as adoption for broadband increases, so does the opportunity for consumers to compare prices for products and services as they look for the best deals on the web.
8). Facts about free cell phones By : Isabel Rodrigues There has been a rapid growth in demand for cell phones. Today, cell phones have become an important part of communicating with your friends and relatives. With the growth of mobile phone users many mobile companies are trying to capitalize on mobile web markets. Many cell phone companies are coming up with different ideas to provide value added services to its customers.
9). Satellite Phones - Who Needs One? By : Sebastian Romero Who needs a Satellite phone? Anyone who needs to use a phone on a ship, in the middle of the ocean needs a satellite phone. Anyone who needs telephone contact in wilderness areas like the desert or mountains needs a satellite phone. Anyone who needs constant telephone contact while driving across the country where there are vast rural areas with no cell phone signal needs a satellite phone.
10). T mobile ringtone By : OliviaAndrews Mobile phones no longer remain the same as they used to be earlier. Today, free download ringtone music and other accessories such as wallpapers reflect the personality of a person. Ringtone is a music or tone that sounds when there is an incoming call in the mobile. When there are many mobile phones users at a place, customized ringtones make you know that which one is your call.