Phones, tones and mobile music
By Mark Ward

As everyone knows, most mobile phones reproduce popular - and not so popular - tunes with a series of beeps.
The limited capabilities of most handsets mean that, although the beeps can vary by several octaves, they can only be played one at a time.

It's well known that the resulting stream of sound is an aural delight, is never annoying, and only enhances its surroundings, whether it's played on a cramped commuter train, at a cricket match or during a performance of Wagner's Ring.

Top tracks

But this is all about to change.

Although you might not have realised it, your next phone will probably be able to play "polyphonic" ringtones.

They will no longer be condemned to playing one beep at a time; instead they have a much larger tonal range, play several sounds at once and mix in drum beats and other effects.

"The phone has a mini-soundcard in it," said Adam Freeman, head of ringtones seller Phunky Phones.