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Blackberry devices are among the most versatile and feature-rich smartphones in existence. There is a wide array of options for locating and installing new ringtones on your Blackberry. This guide will help you get the ball rolling.

How to Install Blackberry Ringtones through Email

If you receive an email containing a link to a ringtone that you want to download, open the email, highlight the URL, and select Get Link. Depending on the software used, if a URL is not clickable, you can just copy and paste the address directly into your mobile browser. Then follow these steps:

Save the downloaded file, either to the ringtones folder on your Blackberry or onto a memory card (if you have one installed). If both are options, using the card conserves a bit of memory.

• After the download completes, leave the browser.
• Back in the home screen, you can edit the ringtone’s settings (when you want it to play, etc.) under Profiles -> Advanced. If you want to, you can set custom ringtones for each of your contacts.

Download Ringtones Directly to Your Blackberry

Blackberries can read the common MP3 format, so there is usually no need to bother with conversion or payment for special downloads. We recommend starting here to find your Blackberry ringtones:

CrackBerry
This site has a nice selection of free ringtones, organized by Most Played, Recently Added, Most Downloaded, and Top Rated; or you can browse by category: Genre, Artist, Album or Title. After selecting the ringtone you wish to download, just click “Email Ringtone” and enter the email address associated with your Blackberry.

SendMe Mobile
SendMe Mobile has a vast selection of ringtones featuring your favorite characters, sounds, and stars. Their site is well organized into 22 categories that include the following genres and categories: Alternative, Country, Dance, Christian, Holiday, Jazz, Latin, Classical, College Fight Songs, Pop, R&B, Comedy, Hip Hop & Rap, Rock, Sound Effects, TV & Movies, Voice Tones, Sports, and World Music.

StreetTunes
They have a collection of polytones and realtones, with categories that are neatly organized into a wide variety of categories, including: Alternative, Animal Sounds, Christian, Classical, Country, Dance, Hip Hop, Jazz, and virtually any other obscure type of ring tone you could want from Rancheras to Egyptian Frog. A $9.99 monthly subscription includes 12 downloads per month.

MusicNation
MusicNation connects users to free prepaid phone ringtones that are compatible with most devices and carriers. Carriers include: AT&T, T-Mobile, cricKet, Verizon, VirginMobile, and metroPCS, among others.

Check out the Complete Guide to Blackberry Ringtones for more free, paid and custom ringtone providers.

How to Create Your Own Ringtones

If you want to turn an existing audio or photo file into a custom ringtone or graphic, without having to purchase any software, check out Mobile17.com.

Existing sound files that have been saved in other formats can also be converted into the Blackberry-compatible MP3s using software on your own computer. Ringtone Converter for Mac and Create-Ringtone for Windows are examples of applications that can do the job. iTunes 8 and above (for Mac and Windows) can also be used to create 30-second (or less) MP3 clippings for use as ringtones.

How to Transfer Ringtone Files from a Windows PC

There are two ways to transfer a downloaded ringtone file from a Windows PC onto your Blackberry. If you have a memory card installed in your Blackberry and Mass Storage Mode is enabled, you may simply drag the file over. Here are the steps:

• Install the memory card as per instructions that came with the device.
• Go to Options -> Media Card
• Change the Media Card Support setting to “On.”
• Change Auto Enable Mass Storage Mode When Connected to “Yes.”

Afterward, each time the Blackberry is connected to your PC, a dialog box will pop up, you will be able to select “Open a Folder to View Files” and the memory card will display all of the folders it contains. Open the Blackberry folder, then the ringtones folder, and you will be able to drag the downloaded ringtone file and drop it right into the ringtones folder.

The second option is using the Roxio Media Manager software than came with your device. Here’s how to do it:

• Open Blackberry Desktop Manager, load Media Manager, and make sure your phone is connected.
• In Media Manager, select the Folders tab to view the list of files on your computer.
• Scroll (if necessary) to view the folder containing the downloaded ringtone file that you want to transfer, and select it.
• In the lower left window, under My Devices, select the “ringtones” folder.
• Click “Copy Down.”
• In the Copy Files box, click the “Convert for Optimal Playback” bullet, then the OK button.

After the file transfers to your Blackberry, you’re good to go.

How to Transfer Ringtone Files from a Mac

It is easy to transfer ringtones from an Apple computer running Mac OS X onto your Blackberry OS 4.2 (and newer) device using Bluetooth. Just follow these steps:

• Open the Media application on your Blackberry.
• Select Ring Tones.
• Select Preloaded Ringtones, My RingTones, or All Ringtones (as desired).
• Right of the green phone button, locate and click the Blackberry button.
• Select Receiving Bluetooth. (A ‘waiting for connection” dialog box will appear.)
• On your Mac, launch Bluetooth File Exchange.
• Select Send File and choose your Blackberry as the device.
• Click Send.
• Back in the Blackberry dialog box, select Save, and the file will be added to your Blackberry’s collection.

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