Phone models are getting fancier and fancier as mobile technology progress. More and more high tech features are being incorporated into phones like megapixel cameras, mp3 players, Bluetooth, video playback, among others. These additions are turning mobile phones into true convergence equipment.
Not surprisingly, the accessories that are being put inside phones are also getting more sophisticated and try to keep abreast with these fast changes in mobile phone technology. Ringtones are a good example of this development.
In terms of ringtone development, we have indeed come a long way from the “ancient” ringtones that were nothing more than glorified bleeps and rings. As mobile phones undergo their own technological evolution, so do the ringtones that we have been putting in our phones. From those literal RING tones, phones eventually carried melodic ringtones that you also have the option to compose on your own. Then came polyphonic ringtones that approximate midi files. Polyphonic ringtones were the first step toward the development of tones that actually simulate what it is to hear a song or actual melody in your phone.
From there, MP3 ring tones or real tones became all the rage. You now have the chance to use your favorite song as a ringtone for your phone.
Now ringtones have undergone another stage of evolution with the introduction and rising popularity of “names ringtones”.
What are names ringtones anyway? They are personalised ringtones that you can download to your mobile phone. The difference here is that this type of ringtone contains the name of the caller, which you can then assign to the appropriate contact in your mobile phone’s phonebook.
For example, you can buy a names ringtone that contains the name “Amy” and then use it by assigning it to “Amy Brenner”, a contact in your phonebook.
Names ringtones are very convenient and useful to mobile phone owners because it automatically notifies you who is calling on your mobile phone without even looking at the screen. This kind of advantage did exist before because you can assign a dedicated ringtone to a particular contact. But the added advantage here is that, with a names ringtone, it brings customisation and personalisation a step further. There is something unique and refreshing to actually hear the name of the person you are calling as it gives your mobile phone the semblance of having an artificial intelligence reminiscent of those science fiction movies where futuristic gadgets “announce” who the caller is in their communications devices.
A names ringtone brings the convenience of no-look recognition to callers that contact you on your mobile phone. The personalisation aspect is a big attraction to mobile phone owners. Phone owners love to do little things to their phones to put a personal stamp on an otherwise mass market device. They would change the phone’s casing, wallpaper, themes and even lights to reflect the individual taste and personality of the owner. With a names ringtone the personalisation enters the phonebook itself.
Philip Nicosia is the webmaster of Ringtones.lt, a site specialising in the different genres of ringtones, including names ringtones and Yoda ringtones.
Article Source: ezinearticles.com
Car makers are now starting to post their sales figures for the moth of February. In connection with this, the Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) recently released their sales figures for the month of February this year. Their total sales figure for the month of February for trucks and cars is 22,067 units. This is some Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.6.4 percent lower than last year’s sales figure which amounts to 23,580 vehicles. The car maker has sold 41,332 units for this year until February. This is a marginal decrease from last year’s 41,757 units.
The decrease in the sales figures by the Asian car manufacturer is due to poor sales of cars and trucks. As a matter of fact, the only model which sold higher this year over February of last year is the Mazda3 vehicle. For February of this year, the car manufacturer sold 8,667 units of the Mazda3. This is a 15 percent increase over last year’s sales figure for the said model. Even the fancy Mazda MX-5 Miata did not live up to its billing for February. Mazda managed to sell 1,107 units of the Miata, which is down by 14.5 percent from February 2006 sales figure for the model.
The Mazda5 and the Mazda6 also showed a decrease in terms of sale compared to February of last year. The Mazda5 showed a slip of 26.7 percent while the Mazda6 slipped by 18.5 percent.
The biggest slip in the 11 vehicle lineup of Mazda is the MPV. For February, Mazda only sold one unit of the MPV - this is a far cry from last year’s 1,546 units sold. That showed a decrease of 99.9 percent. A very poor performance indeed and such a feat cannot be even compared to the high performance level of Volvo belts.
Another model that did poorly in terms of sale is the Mazda Tribute. Last year, Mazda sold 3,122 units of the model in February. This year though, Mazda only managed to sell 402 units of the vehicle. Following the Mazda MPV, the Tribute is the second worst performer in the lineup with a decrease of 87.1 percent.
Aside from the Mazda5, good news also comes from the sales figure of the new vehicles introduced just recently by Mazda in the market. The CX-7 showed strong sales figures; Mazda sold 2,952 of this model for the month of February. Another new release which showed strong acceptance from car buyers is the CX-9. Mazda sold 1,168 units of this model. The year-to-date figure for the CX-7 has reached 5,719 for the first two months of the year. Meanwhile, the year-to-date figure for the CX-9 has now reach 1,250 units. With the help of these two models, Mazda may be on its way to increasing their sales figure for the succeeding month when compared to last year’s performance in the market.
The best-ever August sales of Toyota was recently reported by Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA. Said report divulged sale transactions totaling 240,178 vehicles. Compared to last year’s figure involving same period, the figure has increased by 12.6 percent.
When asked about his reaction to the significant increase of figures, Jim Lentz, TMS Executive Vice President answered, “We are grateful to have the fuel-efficient models today's market demands. But it's the strength of our dealer network which is proving increasingly central to our growth."
Toyota Division has posted its August sales totaling 209,104 vehicles. The number of vehicles sold is 13.6 percent higher than previous sales.
Toyota Division also reported the best-ever passenger cars sales this August. Toyota recorded 125,768 sales, which is 14.7 percent greater than last year’s August sales. Toyota best-sellers were led by Corolla which has 34,971 creating 7.4 percent increase. Next comes Camry Hybrid which has 42,227 sales and its increase amounted to 1.9 percent. Said car went on sale last April. Nevertheless, despite the short span of time, Camry Hybrid has gained remarkable sales. Total Camry got a combined August sales totaling 42,227 which is up by 1.9 percent. Yaris, which went on sale in March, has recorded 11,392 sales for August. Prius, on the other hand got 11,177 sales for August and an increase of 9.3 percent.
In connection with light truck sales, Toyota Division reported an increase of 12 percent. Said increase were led by RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) which has the most remarkable sales amounting to 14,363. Said figure was increased by 87.4 percent than that of last year’s figure. The outstanding sales may have brought about by revolutionary RAV 4 Toyota RAV 4 parts incorporated in the vehicle to effectuate a more powerful performance.
Next to RAV4 comes FJ Cruiser which has reported sales of 6,259 units. The Highlander Hybrid mid-size SUV reported sales of 2,581 units. The Highlander and Highlander Hybrid posted combined August sales of 11,645. So far, August has proved to be the best month for Toyota.
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