why cant i assign ringtones to contacts?

You can, if they are saved as a phone contact, not a social network or google contact. If it's one of those, you need to make a phone contact (just the name is fine, so you don't wind up with duplicate #'s). If you want, at this point, you can add the custom ringtone. Or, you can wait.
The next thing you need to do, if it's not done already, is go to menu, more, display options and uncheck 'only show contacts with phone numbers.
Now, merge the contacts by long pressing on one of them (phone or google/social network) and select merge. It should automatically find any matches.
Once this is done, if you haven't already assigned the contact a ringtone, long press on it (there should be only one listing, with the icons for phone, and for whichever other one you have next to it) and click edit.
At the top, there should be 2 tabs, google/social network, and phone. Click on the phone one, and scroll about half way down, til you get to ringtone. Assign it there.

 

what kind of phone do you have, and what version of android (find this by going to settings> about phone> and scroll down to firmware version

 

it is the android version... and what is the phone model?

 

ok... hmmm. And you are long pressing the contact and clicking edit, scrolling about halfway down to where it says ringtone, correct?

 

OK... is there any way you can get on IRC... it might be a little easier for me to try to help (if I can) there, instead of passing posts back and forth... there is a web based client at
freenode Web IRC (qwebirc)
i'm in a room called #samsung-continuum just copy that over to channel.

 

you won't need a client with the site I gave you. it's built in to web

 

sure give me a minute to download it

 

If all else fails, search the Market for "contact ringtone" - lots of free apps make assigning a ringtone to a contact very easy.

I'm all about easy, so that's what I do.

 

On the SGS4G you have to save the contact first. Then go back, and edit will be in the menu. You can then add all the other info.
Ringtones need to be in a different file - think it's called sound under audio.

 

contacts/specific contact/ settings/ select ringtone

might work that way

hope it helps

 

If you find out; ; let me know !!! so many basic phone features are not here !
I"m searching how to select my phone carrier while traveling abroad; basic stuff like any phone and where ........ I have to pull my sim out to put in a basic phone to call out !!!

 

Wish I had even close tothe optoins of any pda or e6000 nokia phone!! Can't merge my phone contact to sim or copy them all at once to a sim ? Maybe an app for that ?
Select my phone carrier. I"m out of country- where can I select my partner carrier. ?There has to be basic items std with android but no mention of it ?

3. Quick apps or links to get missed msgs/ miss calls ? Has to be a better app for msg manager.

 

We got it figured out. On the sanyo zio (the phone in question) you open the individual contact, then hit menu, go to options, and ringtones.

 

You did not say what phones you guys own.

On my Samsung Galaxy SL, simply go to contacts>open desired contact to change ringtone>menu>edit>scroll down to ringtone. Same should apply to Samsung devices running TouchWiz.

For those not running Touchwiz, I'd advise to download and install Go Contacts EX. it has the option to change ringtones per contact edit menu too.

As for selecting carriers, on a Samsung, go to Menu>Settings>Wireless and Network>Mobile Networks>Select Network Operator.

 

I'm not too familiar with aim phones (I'm on a cdma carrier, which doesn't use them) but, exporting your contacts to sit shouldn't be too hard. From your main contacts list try hitting menu, and if you don't see export/import there, hit 'more'. Click export, and I would think it would give you an option for sd card and sim. As for choosing a carrier abroad, i haven't the faintest clue. And for messages, pick an app, any app. There are dozens of them on market. I use handcent myself.

 

Seriously, does this method actually not work on some phones? That's the default way with stock Android. That's always the way to set a contact to go straight to voicemail.