Cell Plus Sues Cingular Over Ringback Ad Patent. Worst. Idea. Ever.

I've been reading Stephen King's book "Cell." For those
who have not read it, the plot involves a "pulse" transmitted through all of the world's cell phones, turning anyone who has a cell phone to their ear, first into a homicidal maniac and then into a telepathic zombie. Ever since I started it, I keep giving my own cell phone sideways looks, waiting for the thing to turn on me.

I can only assume that the folks at Perceptive Impressions have read the same book and are desperately trying to keep everyone from using what one character in the book calls the "devil's intercom." This outfit has, I kid you not, patented technology which will permit cell phone companies to force you to listen to advertising when someone else's phone is "ringing" -- what, in the trade is called a ringback tone. As all sane cell phone users will immediately abandon their phones, crushing them under their feet upon being subjected to this unnecessary torture, we will all be saved from the fate of the unlucky "phone crazies" in King's book.

Indeed, Perceptive Impression appears to know something the rest of us don't know about the dangers of the internet if its extremely annoying website is any gauge.

In any event, Perceptive Impressions, through its subsidiary, Ring Plus (located on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills) has sued Cingular for infringing its patent on this life-affirming idea. It appears that Perceptive Technology may be a troll, however, as its press release announcing the action ominously notes that the music industry may also be "possible targets for infringement litigation."