Tired of hearing the usual ringtones all over town? Just at the coffee shop this morning you heard that annoying Nokia tune coming from at least three different people, and what about that generic ring-ring that reminds you of the office phone when you're walking down the street on a sunny day? We all need to add some fun to our lives now and then, and you don't need to brush up on your punch lines to do it. Yes, aside from the imminently useful functions we all know about, your trusty cellphone can be used as a source of amusement for you, or depending on your ringtone, a source of great irritation to those around you!



Luckily, there are a huge number of funny ringtones available today for nearly every kind of cellphone – and for every kind of personality. You can download the perfect ringtone to go with your mood, current obsession, and for more fun, match it with a person on your address book. This means you'll know your boss is calling when you hear Darth Vader's march, or better yet, an agonizing scream. But seriously, if you're a movie buff, you're sure to have hours of fun with some of the film-inspired ringtones around – from the Terminator's harsh Austrian accent informing you of a call, to the unmistakable Tarzan howl replacing the monotonous “ring-ring” on your phone. And its not just Stars Wars fanatics who are sure to

get a hoot out of Yoda saying “Answer the phone you must” or “Press the button to fulfill your destiny”. Who wouldn't giggle (or gawk) at the sound of Jack Nicholson, Robert de Niro or the throaty voice of Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) telling you to pick up the call?

For comic types and practical joke lovers, a funny ringtone has got to be part of your everyday repertoire, and here you truly can go nuts. Try the bugle call-charge! ringtone, which is sure to grab attention on a crowded bus. The classic silly fart is another gem for those quiet times when lining up at the bank. If you want something a little more convincing, try the laughter fit and watch the person behind you try not to giggle. With an endless list of amusing ringtones, you can be funny without even trying. One word of advice though, stay away from the 50 mm machine gunfire ringtone at the airport. Others may just get the wrong end of a stick with that particular one.

The list of entertaining ringtones spawns even to that of political icons. Imagine Tony Blair's voice enumerating your cellular phone's destructive prowess. How about George W. Bush reminding you of an incoming call? Or Prince Charles telling you politely that you have a call coming through? These political movers and shakers are here for one purpose- to take your calls. Beats voice mail, doesn't it?

For the non-political minded, there are still bound to be some ringtones to tickle your funny bone. Ladies, what about a sexy male voice telling you how gorgeous you are? Or the leery construction-worker wolf whistle? For the boys, maybe a sultry Latina voice is more your style, or even the infectious yawning tone? You can even try to test if the ringtone actually transmits the yawn to the person next to you.

Finally, the new breed of personalized ringtones are here not just to add a little ego to our lives, but some fun as well. You may not have the latest hi-tech robot at home to do the dishes, but your cellphone declaring “Eric, you have a phone call” can make you feel like 21st century boy.