Polyphonic ringtones or MIDI ringtones were introdused
in 2002. Back then not many phones supported the use
of polyphonic ringtones. Nowadays most new phones
can play polyphonic ringtones.
It is the Musical Instrument
Digital Interface (MIDI) that enables the creation
of polyphonic musical compositions with differnet
sounds. Polyphonic means that multiple tones can be
played at the same time using instrument sounds such
as guitar, drums, electronic piano, etc.
The first Nokia phone to use
polyphonic tones was the Nokia 3510. In the second
quarter of 2002, Nokia also announced its 3585, 3590
and 7210 mobile phone models which all support SP-MIDI
for ringtones, game sound and messaging.
Polyphonic ringtones can be
used as ringtones, message alert tones and as sound
effects in mobile phone games.
