Today’s mobile phone ring tones are even going beyond the sounds of an orchestra performance to mimic the sounds of nature. Samsung Electronics introduced the first mobile phone featuring 16-polyphony melodies last year. Now the company is coming out with a 40-polyphonic version that takes sound quality to new heights.

The SCH-X290, with color LCD and 40-polyphonic ring tone, will be available in stores next week before Lunar New Year holidays (only inside Korea). The 16-polyphonic ring tone models have been market leaders so far, but the SCH-X290 will raise the competitive stakes considerably.

40-polyphony generates sounds very close to those experienced in nature. Moreover, Samsung’s latest mobile phone sports a color STN-LCD that provides bright and clear images.

An externally mounted camera is also included, allowing the user to take still photos with the SCH-X290 and send them wirelessly. The LCD is large enough to accommodate 12 lines of text, making Web browsing and other multi-media functions easier to use.