Xingtone

Mobile phone ring-tones are a lucrative business, selling for up to £5 each. A cheaper way is to use software such as Xingtone, which allows users to create a ring-tone based on a digital music file (such as an MP3) and upload it to a mobile phone.

Unlike similar software, Xingtone doesn't need to phone to be connected to the PC as the ring-tone is sent as a text message.

Making a tone is as easy as opening a music file and selecting a piece of it to use for the ring-tone. There are a few simple editing tools but the conversion work is done by the program.

It worked well on one of our test phones (a Sanyo S750 on Orange), although on another (an Orange SPV C500) it wouldn't download the file.

The website has a list of supported phones, as well as a free download of the software, which offers tones at £1.50 each. The £15 boxed version includes 15 free ring-tones with further downloads at £1 each.