I know I'm often very opinionated. And I'm probably too free with those opinions. But here's something that's been on my mind of late.

Readers know I have a lot of connections, close and not so close friends, all throughout the telecom industry. These friends range from very large enterprises, legacy telcos and new breed carriers to small startup companies and innovators across the really broad universe of technology. And while they're greatly focused on unified communications, they aren't all. Some are simply contacts in other industries with whom I share common interests.

I've been doing a survey of co-workers, friends and colleagues for a while now. And I've been paying close attention to their mobile phone habits. And there's one that is just a huge question mark for me - what do you do about ringtones? Do you use them? Do you care? Would you bother?

Ringtones represent an industry that's pretty big. There's a lot of money made selling ringtones cheap. Yet in my universe, they not only don't have a place, they're downright inappropriate.

I've carried multiple cell phones for a long time - for years. And the only ringtones I use are silent and vibrate. Occasionally in the car I'll turn on a ringer, but with a bluetooth headset, even that's just pointless.

I spend innumerable hours in meetings and on conference calls. Every person I know in business does. It doesn't matter whether it's a small business or large one. And it's widely accepted and assumed that common courtesy dictates that phones are on vibrate or silent. And they're set that way all the time.

Sheryl and I chuckle on those rare occasions when we go to a movie and the "please silence you cell phone" screen comes up. Why would my cell phone not be silent in the first place.

Is it simply a matter of manners that some of us don't inflict our choice of ringtone song of the day on those around us? I know ringtones are quite popular with younger generations, but I don't think it's a generational thing either. I know plenty of young people who have no interest in or use for ringtones.

Today we get not just audio ringtones, but depending on your phone, video as an option too. And what cell phone doesn't have an address book that lets you associate a picture with the caller?

Sheryl and I talk on the phone a lot. I know at a glance it's her because her picture pops on the screen. But do I need Stardust (our theme song) intruding in a meeting or when I'm in the men's room? Or a video of what - her gorgeous face saying "hi honey, it's me calling."

I don't write here about the ringtone companies I know if, even those that are ventures of friends because I see it as a pointless dying business with absolutely no future. I find ringtones a nuisance, and I think it's incredibly rude to inflict my taste in music on others. I don't like it when you make me listen to you favorite song any more than I want to listen to you argue with your girlfriend at the table next two me when we're having dinner.

I'd really like to hear your thoughts on ringtones. Agree or disagree? Say so. Think I'm missing the boat? Show me the light. Please feel free to comment.