Citing the massive popularity of social networking, Virgin Mobile is now in on the act, encouraging customers to create ringtones and/or wallpapers and making each available on virginmobile.ca so that other customers can sample and perhaps download them for themselves. The creator is rewarded with 10 cents worth of "top up credits" to their Virgin Mobile account each time another member purchases and downloads their stuff.

To do it, Virgin Mobile subscribers can use LiveTone.com's Studio V mixer software (for free) which lets them pick from some 3000 beats, grooves and effects, to create custom ringtones and wallpapers and then uploading the finished creation to the member's community portal full of user-generated content.

"We thought it would be a great way of showing our customers we care by showing them they can make money off their provider," Nathan Rosenberg, chief marketing officer at Virgin Mobile Canada. "We think our customers are bright and creative, so Studio V is a great way for them to get their groove on while getting rewarded for letting other members enjoy their music and photography on their mobiles."

Virgin flogs the user-created tones and papers for $2.50 a pop, crediting the creator with a 4% commission of 10 cents on each sale. Heck of a deal, even though you can't take it to the bank, but you can talk more.