Phone charms (also phone danglers, phone lanyards, phone chains and phone straps) are charms that are connected to a

mobile device A mobile device or handheld device is a computer small enough to hold and operate in hand. Mobile devices are typically battery-powered and possess a flat-panel display and one or more built-in input devices, such as a touchscreen or keypad. ...

either via a phone connector or a silicone plug, which fits into the jack port sometimes provided with circle cotters and a lobster clasp, or a small strap, knotted with a cow hitch knot, or a lanyard. Some phones may have a loop hole through which a strap can be attached or a phone case may be needed for the strap in phones that lack a loophole. In

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, they are known as . Phone straps have now become a cultural

phenomenon A phenomenon ( phenomena), sometimes spelled phaenomenon, is an observable Event (philosophy), event. The term came into its modern Philosophy, philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which ''cannot'' be ...

beyond their basic utility, and they may be themed with famous characters such as '' Hello Kitty''. Phone straps may also serve additional functions, such as screen cleaning.

History

Phone charms first originated in

and later in the

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. They gradually became popular in the

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and

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. In recent years, it has become popular to accessorize a phone this way, and

Maki-e is a Japanese lacquerware, Japanese lacquer decoration technique in which pictures, patterns, and letters are drawn with lacquer on the surface of lacquerware, and then metal powder such as gold or silver is sprinkled and fixed on the surface ...

stickers are also becoming more common, especially in Japan, and to a lesser extent, other parts of Asia. When Apple released the iPhone 3GS in 2008, it lacked a slot for attaching accessories. In response, a Korean company invented hanging charms that consumers could attach to the phone using screws. In 2018, British designer Anya Hindmarch introduced dangling mobile phone charms as part of her "Pimp Your Phones" collection.

Types of charms

There are a variety of charms available, such as little figurine characters, rhinestone crystal charms, and small teddy bears. Some charms flash or light up when the phone rings. Many charms also have a small bell attached and there are charms available in Gashapon machines, many of which are based on characters from various popular franchises, such as video games. There are also some charms in which one may put on the finger to clean the device's display. In recent years smartphones such as the Galaxy Z Flip series have the option to add charms via a small ring on the back of an optional case and sometimes can include small electronics such as clip on wireless speakers, charging cases for true wireless earbuds, power banks and wallets.

References

{{Mobile phones Mobile phones Fashion accessories

History

Types of charms

See also

References