Just got new Sony Ericsson phones and I think I will need an additional college degree to figure out all the goodies.
Can I create ringtones from CDs?
How do I down load ringtones and get them into the phone?
Can I use any .wav files as ringtones eg me playing a whistle?
Thanks-- I’m sure I’ll think of more…
I can only address one of the questions, and generically at that. Someone with that specific type of phone will be of greater use.
Most new cell phones have a menu option for shopping. (i.e, shopping for ringtones, or games, or other goodies,) and the phone will establish a wireless connection with it’s particular vender–e.g. cingular.com.
From there you should be able to navigate around and make a choice which is billed to your cell phone bill. Most mobile providers also have a website from which you can probably select and buy ringtones.
Once you’ve made the purchase, what generally happens is that the ringtone is sent directly to your phone as a file and text message, and the new ringtone should then appear in the list of tones already available on your phone.
if you have a “voice recorder” function, you could record whatever it is you want for a ringtone, save it in whatever file extension your phone uses, then put that as your ringtone. My son did that with some stupid song he uses (vs. paying $1.99 to download it a bad version of it).
I can’t do that with my Samsung E330 even with a voice recorder built in. Unless someone knows better…
The older Ericsson models used to allow you to compose your own ringtone - that was back when the ringtones were still electronic bleeps, and not the full orchestrated “Thus Spake Zarathustra” or antique telephone noises or cowbells or bloody HiphipRapCrap that some users seem to prefer.
One particular annoying caller was linked to “Colonel Bogey”.
I’ve recently lost my mobile phone. It just might be at the lost property office in Paddington. I suppose I’ll have to try and get it. It’s kind of restful without it.
Paul, I have some simple steps to solve all your cell phone woes:
1- read Cell, by Stephen King.
2- throw away your cell phone.
3- live happily ever after! 
I don’t know about Sony Ericsson, but my Nokia can import selfmade ringtones (from a CD or selfrecorded) via bluetooth using a program called PCsuite for Nokia. This is more interesting than using voicerecorder, as the latter gives a lousy sound quality.
I installed Nokia PC suite 6.1 on my PC a couple of years ago and it continually crashed my computer with error messages. Not only that, I had to get a specialist uninstall program to get rid of all the baleful bits it left behind in my registry. Use it if you want, but good luck to you. I wouldn’t go near it again with a ten foot bargepole!
I’ve got vs. 6, and had no problems with it. I love being able to synch my Lotus Notes (we have to use it for work) to my phone, and vice versa.