Ringtones
Ringtones have come a long way from the old-fashioned trills we were used to ten years ago. From classic song clips to realistic sound effects, there's virtually no limit to what you can use to signal calls. In fact, ringtones have become part of the appeal of a mobile phone, especially for the younger generation. Not only do they sound cool and catchy, they also help you identify your phone in a sea of similar sounds. To the public, your choice of ringtones are essentially a reflection of your personality.
The first mobile phone ringtones were sold in Finland in 1998. Today, ringtones bring in over $2 billion in worldwide revenues. There are different types of ringtones for mobiles, but they won't work for every handset. Here's a quick rundown to help you choose the right type for your mobile phone.
Monophonic Ringtones
Monophonic ringtones are the oldest ringtones format and the most universally compatible. They can play one note or sound at a time; that is, there are no overlapping sounds such as drumbeats, accents or percussion. Traditional ringing tones are usually monophonic. Because they are single-layered, they have very small sizes and fit into the limited memory of most mobiles. This is why most phones are pre-loaded with a number of monophonic tones, even if they are capable of more advanced formats.
Polyphonic Ringtones
Developed around the same time as color screen phones, polyphonic ringtones offer more volume and fullness than monophonics. The first polyphonic tones could play up to 16 sounds at a time; newer models now support up to 72. In a polyphonic composer (a program found in most phones), you can add beats, change pitches, and other sounds to make it catchier. Some classic ringing tones have been translated into polyphonic form, making them more realistic. They still take up very little phone space, although they're slightly larger than monophonic tones.
True Ringtones
True ringtones come in newer, higher fidelity formats, including MP3, WMA, AAC, and M4A. Most true tones are excerpts from popular songs made available by network operators, usually for a fee. Many phones allow you to make a voice recording and use it as one of your ringtones or message alert tone. Others even have a song clip feature where you can cut to specific parts of a song, which you can then set as ringtones. True tones take up a lot of phone space, so they are usually offered in higher-memory phones and smartphones.
