With so many ringtones available these days, it is no wonder that some people are totally lost when it comes to understanding where to look and what procedures to follow when looking to download a ringtone. There really is not any big mystery, but there are a few common sense precautions you should take before you ever click on any download ringtone icon. Here are a few hints to help keep your sanity during your hunt for the perfect ringtone, as well as protect your cell service and equipment. The very first thing to determine is whether or not the ringtone you are considering is compatible with your cell service and your phone type. Just as it is true that there are several different types of electronic documents out there, several formats for ringtones are on the market today.

Before you begin to search for a ringtone, make sure you know exactly what format will work with your setup. This one simple act can save you hours of frustration and also help to narrow the numbers of websites you will want to investigate. Second, it is important to make sure that you download any ringtone from a secure site, and one that you can trust to be free of any virus. A sad fact of our time is that far too many people end up with a computer virus that is transmitted through what seems like the most innocent download in the world. Don't think that just because you paid a fee to join a ringtone site that you will not have a problem with a virus later on. Make sure that the ringtone file, just like any file, is checked for a virus and is clear before you complete the transaction.

A third thing to consider is to have an idea of what you think you would like before you begin browsing. There are literally tens of thousands of ringtones available through the Internet these days. Without at least a general idea of what type of ringtone you might like, you can spend days sifting through all sorts of locations trying to find the right ringtone. Do yourself a favor and make yourself a list of types that would be worth listening to, and then begin to look around. Don't feel you have to grab a ringtone from the first place you look.

Bookmark any sites that have a ringtone that you really like, and write down the file name of the ringtone. This will allow you to continue looking around, but still be able to come back to any that have caught your attention. By process of elimination, you can then narrow down the list to one or two before you begin pressing download ringtone, and pretty much be assured of having at least one that you will enjoy for an extended period of time.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on free ringtones and MP3 ringtones at http://www.ringtonesvault.com