It would seem the UK isn't the only country that's ringtone crazy.

A study by American company M:Metrics has found that 11.6 million American women and 9.9 American men downloaded ringtones in August – that's over a third of the population of Britain!

The study suggested that many Americans see the ringtone as much more than an incoming call alert, it's a fashion statement too.

"Mobile phones are used in a social context, and as such the phone a consumer carries makes a personal statement. Mobile phone users—particularly youth and young adults—turn to ringtones as a form of social expression," said Mark Donovan, vice president, product and senior analyst of M:Metrics.

Mr Donovan also likened having the latest ringtone to buying "a new pair of shoes or a handbag" for girls, indicating their appeal and fashionable status.

The survey also discovered that both girls and guys were most likely to download the latest hip-hop or rap ringtone, with dance tones coming in last.

Last month research revealed that Brits spent £740 million a year downloading ringtones from the internet.