There are pros and cons to having a prepaid cell phone, but when it comes to ring tones, prepaid phones get the muddy end of the stick – or the worst reception, if you want a cell phone metaphor. Depending on your cell phone provider, it can be a hassle to get ring tone downloads. However, on phones such as the Nokia 1112, you can create your own ring tones or simply choose from whatever polyphonic tones it comes with.
Petro-Canada has created its own cell phone network across Canada and sells Nokia 1112 phones on a pay as you go basis. When you pay as you go, you don’t have to sign any contracts or ever get a credit check. You simply walk into your friendly neighbourhood Petro-Canada (or more classical cell phone provider) and ask to purchase a cell phone. You’ll be set up with the Nokia 1112, a charger and some start up air time. The money making catch that put Petro-Canada in the cell phone business is that you have to purchase all your air time at Petro-Canada.
You can create your own ring tone by recording said tone directly on the phone and it will play back in mp3 sound quality. This leaves the market open to playing a song on a CD player and recording it with your phone recorder if you can’t think of what you want your phone to yell at you when you are getting a call. It seems that in the near future you will be able to download your ring tones is you get bored of making them yourself, as the Nokia website advertises, “Downloadable ring tones, games and graphics are not yet available for the Nokia 1112 Phone. Please check back.” “Check back” makes me think they are working on it, anyway. Remember, your phone has to be capable of using downloadable ring tones before you can get ring tones, so keep this in mind when selecting a cell phone is you are planning on being a cell phone audiophile.
When it all comes down to it, everything regarding your ring tone depends on how often you are going to use your prepaid Nokia phone – if you are using it as an emergency phone only, then it really doesn’t matter what your ring tone is because you are going to use it to call for help, not to receive calls.
