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For video ringtones

PALM DESERT: The standard ringtones on cell phones are not good enough for lots of people who spend good money to download song clips and other custom sounds to their devices. Now an Israeli start-up company bets it can add another layer: the video ringtone.

Vringo Inc. used a technology conference on Thursday to launch its service, which is free for now. If one Vringo user calls another, the recipient not only hears the phone ring, but he or she also would see a short video clip chosen by the caller. Licensed film clips are available, but users can also upload their own video.

Of course, this requires a higher-end cell phone that can show video — a small slice of the mobile market, at least for now. Buying a video clip from the company will cost a few dollars after the launch phase ends, but users could send it as many times as they want.

Vringos can be sent only to people on a customer's buddy list, so you do not have to anticipate the age of unsolicited commercials appearing on your phone out of nowhere. But Vringo's founders do believe their platform has advertisement potential. Paid video clips eventually might end with a brief ad for users who agree to accept the commercial message, likely in exchange for Vringo discounts. — AP

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