A method for playing a
multimedia customized
ringing signal and customized alerting tone, and an
application server are provided. The method includes: receiving, by an
application server, an initial call request from a calling terminal, and sending the initial call request to a called terminal; receiving a provisional response to the initial call request from the called terminal; determining customized ring
signal media
resource information based on the provisional response; sending a first media session update message that carries the customized ring
signal media
resource information to the called terminal; receiving a first response from the called terminal; and playing the
multimedia customized
ringing signal based on the first response, where the initial call request includes SDP information of the calling terminal, and the first response includes a result of customized
ringing signal media resource negotiation between the
application server and the called terminal. In this way, the customized ringing signal media resource negotiation between the application
server and the called terminal and call media resource negotiation to be performed between the calling terminal and the called terminal are implemented in a same session, to help save network resources, and the application
server can manage and control a customized ringing signal service in real time.