Ringtones and logos chiefly attract youngsters
Ordering ringtones is a particularly popular activity among young cell phone owners. From team chants to the latest hits on the radio and in nightclubs, there is a vast range of ringtones available, which boys and girls aged 10 and over buy. «Both my daughters always have their cell phones in their hands, are always sending text messages and afterward go into rapture with the sounds and pictures they receive,» says Fani Tsirimokou, a mother of three. And she adds, «Apart from the prepaid phone cards that are spent in no time, we have learnt, as a family, the entire repertoire of Greek music.» There’s no end to it. Now, firms are sending personal messages, such as: «Do you want to find out if your partner suits you? Send your number to (a certain) number with your name and his/her name. Do you want to know if your relationship has a future?» And so forth. Naturally, none of these phone calls are free. Neither are those that subscribers fire off in order to participate in competitions promising trips, cars, stereo sets and other presents. «Because I send off a lot of messages for orders, I need to buy a card daily. But I like the whole process, because there are lots of choices for screen designs, both funny and serious. I usually send them to friends,» says 15-year-old Nikos Theodorou.
