Verizon Wireless completed its nationwide rollout of ringback tones, launching service Thursday for users in Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico, the carrier said Friday.
U.S. carriers have been scrambling to deploy ringback tones, which allow a caller to hear music instead of a traditional ring before another person answers the phone. Verizon, which initially launched the application in targeted markets in California late last year, becomes the second carrier to offer ringbacks nationwide. T-Mobile USA rolled out nationwide service last December.
The application has gained significant traction in some Asian markets, where carriers are reporting increased average revenue per user of up to $2.44 a month. U.K. analyst firm Ovum believes the global ringback market could reach $2.4 billion by 2008.
Verizon offers a ringback catalog of 2,400 songs in 13 musical genres from Warner Music Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Users paying a $1 monthly subscription fee can access one ringback tone for a year for $2.
