IDC Research: Ringback tones will overtake ringtones in 2010

IDC Research: Ringback tones will overtake ringtones in 2010. With the success of these ringback tones, championed by Verizon Wireless in the US, a new study from IDC indicates that purchases of ringback tones will surpass those of traditional ringtones in 2010. The next couple years should see ringback tones as the single largest revenue stream for wireless providers.

"Ringback tones will overtake ringtones in 2010 and become the single largest revenue source for mobile entertainment due to a variety of inherent advantages. The IDC study, Worldwide Mobile Entertainment 2007-2011 Forecast, analyzes the opportunity for mobile entertainment services, applications, and content types on a global basis.

On the whole, mobile entertainment is expected to account for 5.1% out of a total of $800 billion (with a "b") in global wireless service revenues that IDC is projecting by 2011. Downloadable ringback tones are already widely available on the Web from a variety of sources, including cellular carriers ranging from Verizon Wireless and Sprint to smaller regional carriers.

(via IDC)