Smell tones the next handset fashion

FORGET RINGTONES and even caller tunes. The latest craze to hit in 2006, the INQ can confidently predict is smell tones. Yup. When you mobile handset receives an incoming call or an SMS message, it can be made to emit a pleasant odour.

Naturally, the Japanese market is already way ahead of the game. It's already possible to buy straps which attach to a handset and emit fragrances of Jasmin, wild berries, English Tea and even curry, according to a report on Iconoculture.com.

It shouldn't take long before handset are able to support different smells for different classes of odour - such as cabbage for the boss and roses for your girlfriend.

The first such products appear to be from a company called Keitai KunKun and take the form of a strap which attaches to the mobile handset.

Indeed, straps appear to be big business in Japan as cellular accessories. The INQ was particularly taken with straps that appear to contain live seaweed which grows as you own it. Try looking on the Strapya.com site for such novelties. µ