Mix Some Toons in Ringtones

February 14th, 2007

Reuters reports that Cartoon Network has filed a patent for a technology that will be the first to respond in real time to the state of the phone and the behavior of the user. The company aims to eventually license the technology to other media outlets.

“We’re personifying the normal alerts and displays on the phone,” said Ross Cox, a senior product director.

The network, which is working with Ericsson on the technology, aims to have CallToons available for consumers through U.S. wireless service providers in the fourth quarter. The company has not disclosed pricing plans.

According to Jupiter Research analyst David Card, this type of juiced up ringtones are going to stimulate some more growth in the entire ringtone industry, currently a $600 million market in 2006.