But is this phenomenon nothing more than a study in preoccupation with all things technical, or are there some very good reasons why people like to download ringtones that are unique? Here are a few points to ponder about the proliferation of ring tones in our society, and why that may not be a bad thing.



From a practical perspective, a ringtone that is a little different from what everyone else has can be very useful. As an example, let's say you are out shopping with a friend or spouse in a crowded mall. One easy way to see if your loved one is in close proximity is to call the person's cell phone and listen for their distinctive ring tone.

If you hear it nearby, you can begin making your way there in no time. While this is a convenience with adults, it can be especially useful to a parent who is separated from a child in a busy store. While one can argue back and forth about the wisdom of having a child carry a cell phone, the fact of the matter is that many children under ten do have a cell phone. If that is the case in your home, using a distinctive ringtone as a tracking device is one more reason in your favor.

From the perspective of living in a home where several occupants have cell phones, each person having a ringtone that is uniquely their own also can help cut down on confusion. Many of us tend to lay our cell phones down when at home. If that is the general practice of all the occupants, and everyone has the same ring, imagine everyone scrambling to determine whose phone is ringing. By having a customized ring for each phone in the house, there is never any doubt who is receiving the call, and on which cell phone.

Leaving practicalities aside, let's look into the fact that having your own special ring tone is just plain fun. Not all of us have a lot of room in our lives to be creative. Most of us work a good portion of the day, have responsibilities to children and spouses or partners that we must meet, and have the chores of daily living to take care of on evenings and weekends.

Under those circumstances, why not have a little fun with your ringtone? Maybe using a tag line from a cartoon you loved as a kid will make you smile today. Or perhaps the refrain from one of your favorite songs will help lighten the mood of a stressful day.

Under those circumstances, one could say that when you download ring tones that are significant to you, that you are making an investment in your emotional health. Of course, if you don't want to get that deep with it, simply decide it is worth the time and trouble because it is a lot of fun. And do you really need any other reason?