Random Number generation in PHP

function randomdigit($digits) {
static $startseed = 0;
if (!$startseed) {
$startseed = (double)microtime()*getrandmax();
srand($startseed);
}
$range = 8;
$start = 1;
$i = 1;
while ($i<$digits) {
$range = $range . 9;
$start = $start . 0;
$i++;
}
return (rand()%$range+$start);
}
?>