Americans Vote on Best Ringtones for a Lover or an 'Ex'

Americans Vote on Best Ringtones for a Lover or an 'Ex'

Virgin Mobile USA Survey Reveals America's Top Ringtones and Ringback Tones for Valentine's Day

WARREN, N.J., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While more than 220 million wireless ringtones and ringback tones are sold annually each year, they take on special significance when February 14 rolls around. To find out how Americans use their cell phones to show their feelings about torrid love...or downright disgust, no annual contract wireless provider Virgin Mobile USA conducted a survey* of Americans ages 18-49, asking them to rate their top ringtones and ringback tones for the current or "ex" loves of their lives.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070613/VIRGINMOBILE )

The popular Alicia Keys track "No One" took the top spot for "Best Ringtone or Ringback Tone for a Significant Other." Keys' soulful rendition about overcoming the odds beat out other worthy contenders including The Temptations' classic "My Girl," Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," "She's Everything," by Brad Paisley and "Make Me Feel Better" by Fabulous. To see the survey results in their entirety, please visit http://web.virginmobileusa.com/life/survey.

Since Valentine's Day can also leave some feeling in a less than loving mood, Virgin Mobile also polled Americans on the Best Ringtone/Ringback Tone to Assign to an "Ex." "I Hate Everything About You" took the top spot, beating out the cynical "Irreplaceable", Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone," fellow American Idol alum Chris Daughtry's "Over You," and "Ex-Girlfriend."

Celebrities/Personalities Chime In

Some celebrities shared their ringtone choices with Virgin Mobile USA as well:

-- Elisabeth Hasselback set "I Have Always Loved You" by Third Day for her
husband Tim.
-- Fellow "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd has both "Irreplaceable" by
Beyonce and Gloria Gaynor's classic "I Will Survive" ringtones to
identify her ex.
-- Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson hears "My Girl" when his significant
other rings on his Virgin Mobile phone.
-- Ok! Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Sarah Ivens chose "Foundations" by Kate
Nash as the ringtone she has set when an ex gives her a ring. "Love
Today" by Mika is the tone she sets for a new love interest that calls.
-- Fashion designer Issac Mizrahi has Rihanna's "Umbrella" set for his
boyfriend, Arnold.
-- Mr. Grumpy of "The Men Show," Cartoon Network's new animated comedy
series has "Rainy Days and Mondays" by the Carpenters set as the
ringtone for his ex.

Music for Musicians

Music artists clearly have a passion for music so it comes as no surprise that they also download a special ringtone or two for significant callers.

-- Sultry R&B singer Cheri Dennis chose "Shawty is A Ten" by The Dream as
best ringtone for a significant other. Her choice for a ringtone for
an ex is "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson.
-- And hot Miami rapper Trina has her own hit song, "Single Again," set
for when her ex calls.
-- Emerging pop artist Ferras, well-known for his hit single, "Hollywood's
Not America," has "You Look So Fine," by Garbage set for when his
significant other calls. When his ex dials him, he hears "Just
Friends" by Gavin Degraw. Ferras' favorite love song for Valentine's
Day is "Wicked Game" by Chris Issac.
-- R&B singer J. Holiday has his own hit single, "Bed," set for when his
significant other calls. "Complicated," by Robin Thicke, is the song
J. Holiday has set for when his ex calls. His favorite love song for
Valentine's Day is "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye.
-- Fellow R&B singer Trey Songz chose his single "We Should Be" as his
ringtone for a significant other. He selected another of his own
singles, "Hatin' Love," as the ringtone he has set for his ex.
-- Rock and alternative band member Ryland of Cobra Starship set "Let's
Make Love and Listen To Death From Above" by CCS as his ringtone to
signal a call from his significant other. Ryland's song for his ex is
Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl." "Chelsea Hotel #2" by Leonard Cohen is
Ryland's favorite love song.
-- French Canadian punk band Simple Plan's lead singer Pierre Bouvier
likes "Cupid's Chokehold" by Gym Class Heroes as his lover's ringtone;
for his ex, it's "I Don't Want You Back" by Eamon. This Valentine's
Day, Bouvier's favorite love song is "Hold My Heart (Part 2)" by
Letterkills.
-- Christian [rocker] NeedToBreathe likes Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" for a
significant other and "One" by U2 for exes. Favorite romantic ringtone
overall is "Shelter" by Ray LaMontagne.

Songs To Love By

For some, Valentine's Day isn't just about falling in love or breaking up - it's also about the fun stuff in between. For those who are naughty by nature, here are the songs Americans rated as the best for "hooking up" on February 14:

-- I Wanna Love You by Akon
-- She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5
-- French Kissing Life by Kenny Chesney
-- Suck My Kiss by Red Hot Chili Peppers
-- Clothes Off by Gym Class Heroes

That Special Time

Finally, the Virgin Mobile survey asked Americans to rate the best song to hear when losing one's virginity. A quarter of those polled chose "It's Your Love". This husband-wife team duet beat out:

-- Feels Like the First Time by Foreigner
-- Give It to Me by Timbaland
-- Like a Virgin
-- Gimme More

Cobra Starship's Ryland also shared the song he lost his virginity to - the theme song to the television sitcom "Home Improvement." For that special occasion, Pierre Bouvier tells us he lost his virginity to Warrant's "Cherry Pie." And J. Holiday wasn't shy when answering what song he lost his virginity to: "Forever My Lady" by Jodeci.

Pick-Up Lines

For those not attached on Valentine's Day and looking to brush up on their courting skills, Virgin Mobile USA is encouraging customers to create their own wallpaper with text of the best and worst pick-up lines through its "Studio V," Virgin Mobile's own user-generated mobile content community. Other customers can then rate the pick-up lines and download the wallpapers at http://studiov.virginmobileusa.com/.

*Survey of 500 adults 18-49 conducted in January 2008 for Virgin Mobile by PKS Research Associates.

About Virgin Mobile USA, Inc.

Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE:VM) offers more than five million customers control, flexibility and choice in wireless service, rich data content and innovative products without annual contracts. Voice pricing plans range from monthly options with unlimited nights and weekends to by-the-minute offers, allowing consumers to adjust how and what they pay according to their needs. Virgin Mobile's full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets, including the Wild Card, Super Slice and Cyclops, are available at top retailers in more than 40,000 locations nationwide and online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/, with Top-Up cards available at more than 140,000 locations.

J.D. Power and Associates ranked Virgin Mobile highest in customer satisfaction among wireless prepaid services in both 2006 and 2007, and its customers report a 90% satisfaction rate. Virgin Mobile contributes 5% of profits from downloadable content to The RE*Generation, its pro-social initiative to help homeless teens, and provides postage-paid return envelopes in every new package for customers to recycle old phones. Virgin Mobile USA's national coverage is powered by the nationwide Sprint PCS network.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070613/VIRGINMOBILE
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Virgin Mobile USA, Inc.

CONTACT: Media Contacts: Corinne Nosal of Virgin Mobile USA,
+1-908-607-4235, corinne.nosal@virginmobileusa.com; or Alysa McKenna of
Cooperkatz & CO, +1-212-455-8023, amckenna@cooperkatz.com

Web site:

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/
http://studiov.virginmobileusa.com/
http://web.virginmobileusa.com/life/survey

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