The ringtone was originally the idea of Daniel Malmedahl, a computer salesman from Gothenburg, whose impersonation of a two-stroke motor scooter reduced his friends to tears of laughter. It was posted on a website where it was discovered by another Swede, Erik Wernquist, a 3D graphics designer, who drew a cartoon to match the sound.

His blue frog with prominent belly button and 1950s-style crash helmet was picked up by ringtone company Jamster and heavily promoted by the company across all mediums. Jamster has made more than £10m from people downloading Crazy Frog ringtones.

Its march into mainstream culture was further assisted by the German dance act Bass Bumpers, who combined Mr Malmedahl's invention with Axel F, the theme from the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop.