The condom-condom ringtone was released in order to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS in India has ended up becoming an international hit.
The ringtone was launched just three weeks ago and already there are 257,744 SMS requests for download and over 2 million hits on the website of the makers. Rupert Fernandes has composed the music for this tone and Vijay Prakash has sung the song.
“It is a hit internationally. Nowhere in the world are we aware of a ring tone for a product,” said Yvonne MacPherson, country director of the BBC World Service Trust, the international charity of the BBC.
“The ‘condom a cappella’ ringtone is really innovative. What is amazing is that India has started the trend of a ring tone which carries a social health message. People are excited about this ring tone internationally and are looking to India for this.”
The “condom a cappella” has been designed to break down Indians’ reluctance to discuss condom use and to make wearing a condom more acceptable.
Organisers of the campaign, funded by the foundation set up by Microsoft mogul Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, hope the ringtone will become a craze among young Indians.
About 2.5 million people live with HIV in India, said the BBC World Service Trust, the charity behind the ringtone.
“Ringtones have become such personal statements that a specially created condom ringtone seemed just the right way of combining a practical message with a fun approach,” said Radharani Mitra, creative director of the BBC World Service Trust.
“The idea is to tackle the inhibitions and taboos that can be associated with condoms.”
India is the world’s fastest-growing mobile telephone market with 270 million users according to the latest official figures, up 57 percent in just one year.
Visit www.condomcondom.org for more information.
