When DRM Spoils the Party

Now, it seems reasonable to me that when I’ve paid a lot of money for my phone, either for the handset or through a contract, or both, that I should be able to use whatever sodding ringtone I like. But what Vodafone has done on the V800, (and it’s common on other handsets too), is to ensure that the only ringtones you can use on your phone are ones that you download over its network, i.e., ones that you have paid for. This ensures that it gains revenue either directly from the sale of the ringone and for use of its network.

Now a lot of people have moaned about how operators customise handsets, and I have to say that on my old T630 it really was irritating. T-Mobile had doubled up the dedicated link to its WAP portal with a soft key, removing a handy shortcut link in the process. However, while I wasn’t bothered by the Vodafone branding on the V800 the DRM limitation definitely got my goat. I had an MP3 and I was determined to use it.

Therefore I did what everyone does these days and turned to the Yoda-like pool of wisdom that is Google. Not surprisingly, I wasn’t the only one having this issue. And sure enough there was a workaround which involved downloading a utility called DRM Packager. This is actually an official Sony Ericsson tool, and enables users to apply the required DRM.

However, actually finding it proved difficult. A few months ago all one had to do was register at the Sony Ericsson developer site and download it but it seems that now Sony Ericsson has removed it from its site probably at the bequest of Vodafone, who probably paid a lot of money for Sony Ericsson to keep the V800 an exclusive for about six months. (Network agnostic Z800 expected shortly). However, with a bit of persistence you’ll find DRM Packager out there somewhere. I did. A couple of clicks later and I had my ringtone. Ha, take that Vodafone!

The galling thing is that so many people won’t have the technical nouse or the determination to get round these kinds of limitations and will end up paying outrageous prices just to download a ringtone. I had a quick look on Vodafone Live! and they were charging £3! If it costs 79p for a whole track on iTunes charging that much for a ringtone is a disgrace.

Why are ringtones so expensive? It’s no doubt a mix of things, ranging from the fact that there are so many groups wanting a slice of the royalties, the fact that the networks are looking for ways to recoup the huge costs they racked up when they bid for the UK 3G licences, and the fact that people are stupid. Of the three I’d say the last one was probably the most significant. Ringtones are expensive because people are willing to pay for expensive ringtones. According to reports, over four billion dollars was spent in the US on them. Depressing but true.

So kids, it’s yes to expensive phones but no to overpriced content. Fight the Power.

At least I’m satisfied that I managed to circumnavigate the big brother DRM on my phone and can now pretend I’m Jack Bauer every time it rings. Now if I could just get Jalal to stop hitting me…