MTR

Say No - Say no to bad caller ring tone/tune/music

Introduction to Caller Tone

Ever called someone's mobile/cell phone, only to hear music instead of the normal ring tone? It could be a collegue, friend, family member, or even a business acquaintance. In fact, anyone, if they are gullible enough, can opt to have their caller tone changed or customised.

Being put on hold even before they answer the phone

Who's trying to imitate busy call centre?

More than anything, it is almost like being put on hold the instant you call them. It also goes against convention. Music On Hold (MOH) should only be played when the caller is actually on hold. Hearing music as soon as you ring someone can be considered rude by some. After all, you didn't call to be put on hold, you call to speak to the person you are calling. The exception are call centres - after all, they are 'call centres', and usually have queues of callers waiting, which makes Music On Hold very acceptable. It is also good etiquette that the person on the other end advises that they will be putting you on hold before actually doing so.

The choice of the music being played, unlike business phone systems and call centres, is entirely the personal choice of the callee. Callers are at the mercy of the song choice of the mobile phone owner. Whichever way you think about it, it all comes down to one thing: the person you called is making a bold statement to you, whether you care or not; even if it is against your wishes. It is a forced show of the callee's ideaologies, whether you like it or not.

Mobile phone carriers: The perpetrator of the crime

Telstra, Optus, Virgin, 3, Vodaphone: Yes, they are all guilty of this!

Mobile phone companies are no better. Traditionally, providers offered ringtones for customers to use on their mobile phone handsets, which were fine, because they were originally intended so that the owner of the handset can hear it and know that their mobile phone has an incoming call.

But now that carriers are promoting these 'caller tones', more and more subscribers are getting duped into paying premium rates to customise their caller tones and sunsequently irritating callers.

And because only the mobile phone provider can offer this service, they are the number one perpetrators. It is a case of yet another one of the telco's 'business ideas' being pushed onto the market as yet another thing for quirky consumers to latch onto, even though it goes against convention and sensibility. In short, it's a 'cash cow' that makes the telco richer, and causes annoyance to others.

Stop the onslaught

Next time you call someone and hear something other than the standard caller ring tone, let them know when they actually answer. Here are some suitable comments:

• Finally, you answered the phone after putting me on hold the instant I called!
• I didn't know you were a call centre. What's with the music on hold?!?
• I think Telstra/Optus/etc screwed up their system and I hear [songname] instead of a proper ringtone
• I was about to hang up because you put me on hold as soon as I called, and I couldn't be bothered waiting
• If I wanted to hear music I'd turn on the radio or listen to a CD!

And finally, if you were considering paying to have your caller tone changed into something else abominable, think again. You're only helping make the telco richer, it will cost you every time you want it changed, and you will end up irritating your callers. You'll be known as the one who has the Vanity Caller Tone.

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