Pop Phone

Forget 3G and handsfree kits; phones were far more entertaining in the good old days. Unwieldy hunks of plastic with clunking great dials, shrieking bells, pulse dialling and, best of all, chunky handsets. You remember; the hefty dumb-bell-like things that you could barely balance between shoulder and ear. Needless to say there's no place for such impractical appendages on today's slimline mobiles. Or is there?

Despite a relentless stream of mobile telephonic innovation, talking on the phone just isn't as satisfying as it used to be. For starters you can't slam a mobile down in disgust, chuck the receiver skywards in delight, or re-enact your favourite 'This is the Sweeney, sunshine, and we're comin' ta get ya!' TV moment.

Fortunately, all that's about to change thanks to the technologically advanced but wonderfully retro Pop Phone. Simply plug this highly evocative hunk of soft-touch plastic into your iPhone (or iPad or laptop for VOIP/Skype calls) and you'll be the envy/laughing stock of all those who encounter you. It's even got an old-style curly wurly cable.

To be fair, attaching an old-school handset to a modern mobile is a bit like strapping a typewriter to a laptop. But that's exactly why we love it. It doesn't make sense, but it's guaranteed to get a laugh and attract attention wherever you may roam. Imagine the look on people's faces when your mobile rings and you pull this colourful relic out of your pocket.

Celebrity Pop Phone users include:

Lenny Kravitz

Jamie Lee Curtis

Eva Longoria

There's something unfathomably satisfying about talking on the Pop Phone. Maybe it's the incongruous juxtaposition of old and new; maybe it's the thrill of talking into an ergonomically ancient design classic; or maybe it's just the fact that it makes you look faintly ridiculous. Who cares? Just enjoy the irony and buy one!