Why have a cell phone that merely rings, beeps or squawks when you can create your own ringtone and compete for prizes while doing so?

Professor Tod Machover of the Media Lab is creating his own buzz with an MIT make-your-own-ringtone competition using Hyperscore, software developed at MIT that allows composers to write music with computer graphics.

The contest started on Monday, Jan. 9, and entries will be accepted until midnight Saturday, Jan. 21.

"The original version of Hyperscore -- part of our Toy Symphony project -- allowed kids to compose music for orchestras around the world," Machover said. "Now you can even carry your masterpiece with you, right in your cell phone."

The competition is staged by Harmony Line Inc., a start-up company launched to further develop and disseminate Hyperscore. Hyperscore can be downloaded free through Harmony Line's community music web site, where participants can create original music, share, edit and comment upon it.

Ringtone submissions will be judged by a panel that includes Machover; David "The Edge" Howell Evans, guitarist for U2; MIT Professor Marvin Minsky; and award-winning Hyperscore inventor Mary Farbood, a Ph.D. student at the MIT Media Lab.

Participants must have an MIT e-mail account. For more contest information and to enter, visit www.h-lounge.com.

Prizes

The winner of the MIT undergraduate category will be awarded a Lyons Group VIP Key Card, good for free, no-wait admissions for the winner and three friends to the Avalon Club or other Lyons Group venues in the Boston area for six months. Prize sponsored by the Lyons Group.

In addition, a $500 cash prize from the H-Lounge will be awarded to a dorm, fraternity, sorority or MIT organization or student group.

The winner in the MIT affiliates category will be awarded a 60GB Video iPod� and Bose iPod SoundDock��� system donated by the H-Lounge.

A showcase for the submissions and the announcement of the winners will be held on Friday, Jan. 27, at 4:30 p.m. at the Stata Center's Kirsch Auditorium (Room 32-123).