[ian0]

I live in Indonesia and I can vouch that ring-back-tones are not just alive but also remain very profitable.

When you call a person with a RBT there is first a message saying "If you want this tone for 10cents please press 7", then the music starts, usually the latest chart-song.

Needless to say it has a solid customer base made up mostly of teens, but also of corporates with a company jingo as the RBT (I kid you not).

Im not sure if the big chat apps (will dominate VoiP) have this function built in yet but Id imagine they will at some stage, a nice VAS if you can charge for it..

[beilabs]

I'm pretty sure this was incredibly popular in China around 2005. Pick your favourite artists song and pay for it with existing phone credit. Then force your family and friends to listen each time they call...