99% Invisible All Rings Considered
Aug 28, 2019
Vesku-Matti Paananen, the father of the custom ringtone, discusses the cultural impact and evolution of ringtones, from simple sounds to music clips that defined personal identity. Joe Rosenberg shares a hilarious college anecdote about an awkward ringtone incident. They explore the nostalgic appeal of ringtones, the humorous challenges of social interactions they sparked, and how this personal expression evolved with technology. Their conversation highlights the memorable blend of creativity and communication that ringtones represented in our lives.
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Uncle Scooter's Ringtone
- James T. Green recalls his cool Uncle Scooter's ringtone at family gatherings.
- Maxwell's "This Woman's Work" played constantly, signifying Scooter's many girlfriends.
Personalized Ringtones
- Ringtones were highly personalized and reflected individual tastes.
- People carefully chose ringtones for different contacts, adding a personal touch to communication.
Birth of the Ringtone
- Vesku-Matti Paananen, the "father of the custom ringtone," had his idea at a party in Finland in 1997.
- He was inspired by the annoying default Nokia ringtone and his desire to hear Van Halen's "Jump."