A terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system includes a memory capable of storing a plurality of ringing tones, where the plurality of ringing tones includes at least one set of at least two ringing tones associated with at least one event. The terminal also includes a controller capable of choosing a ringing tone from the set(s) of ringing tones based upon a predefined selection criteria, such as based upon a random search criteria or a sequential search criteria. The controller is further capable of generating signals directed to an output reproduction device that is capable of generating the chosen ringing tone in response to the terminal receiving an event associated with the at least one set of ringing tones including the chosen ringing tone.