Apple's iPhone wins rights to sell readymade ringtones in iTunes

Apple has obtained the rights to offer readymade ringtones for the iPhone and the company is trying to have them available in time for next Wednesday's music-themed press conference.

Owners of Apple's iPhone have long had the ability to create custom-made ringtones for their devices. The new music snippets are mainly a convenience, as they make it possible for iPhone owners to obtain a pre-cut ringtone instead of having to create their own.

Apple will announce the ringtones on 9 September, if it can get them ready in time to sell, music industry sources told silicon.com sister site CNET News. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.

At the event, Apple is expected to roll out a new digital album cover codenamed Cocktail. There are also rumours that upgraded iPods will also debut.

The fact Apple has scheduled the event for a Wednesday, instead of the company's preference to make announcements on Tuesdays, there is speculation that there could finally be an announcement that a Beatles catalogue is coming to iTunes. 9 September is also the day the Beatles' remastered digital albums and Rock Band video game will be released.

Apple's invitation for next week's event
(Image credit: Apple)

As for ringtones, they have been a boon to the music industry. In the past, consumers have shown a willingness to pay as much as $3 to hear a few seconds of a favourite song when receiving an incoming call.

For that reason, ringtones have offered music labels and retailers better profit margins than full song downloads, which typically sell for between 79 cents and $1.29.

Whatever price Apple chooses, some say the ringtone craze is in decline. SNL Kagan, a research firm, issued a report earlier this month that said ringtone sales dropped from $714m in 2007 to $541m in 2008, or 24 per cent.

That was the first time mobile music registered an overall sales decline, according to Kagan. Part of the reason for the drop off, according to the research firm, was that consumers have learned to create their own ringtones out of downloads.

Original article: Apple to offer ready-made ringtones from CNET News.com