The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) just released its research results about a month ago, indicating that using cell phones might cause cancer. Kurt Straif from IARC said cell phone users would get much radiation if they put the phone close to the ear. Despite disputes over the IARC's frightening research results lacking firm evidence, fear of cell phone radiation carries on. Keeping some distance from the cell phone can certainly reduce the radiation level, IARC has suggested. Besides the cell phone earplugs that many of us are not very willing to plug into our ears, the retro phone handset now regains popularity.

Hong Kong singer and film star Sammi Cheng once showed a photo of herself using her newly purchased bright yellow handset on Sina Weibo.

"The new generation of ear phone styles are not as interesting as this gadget, so I bought the retro style. I was told it is radiation protective. I believe so. The salesperson said foreigners even use them on the streets… It is unbelievable." Sammi's Weibo was then forwarded almost 1,000 times and got hundreds of comments on this interesting gadget. Cheng is not the only fan, unusual pop icon Lady Gaga is also found often listening to calls on a speaker phone or a handset like Native Union's moshimoshi line.

The trend starting from the West blew to China. The original invention of Native Union's brightly colorful moshimoshi retro pop handset was copied in China, with a much lower price than Native Union's more than 300 yuan ($46), knockoffs go as low as 30 yuan. The moshimoshi two (MM02) designed by the French designer David Turpin is even more upgraded with a weighted base and a silicon mat. Authentic moshimoshi are popular on Taobao too, fitted with a 3.5 mm jack, compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod touch (2G, 3G, 4G), HTC Android, Blackberry and Samsung. But literally it can be used for all cell phones as long as you have the correct adaptor (other phones have 2.5 mm jack). In addition, you can also connect to your laptop when you are using VOIP, like G Talk, Skype, Messenger and others.

More hilariously, the copied handsets in China have even been embellished with DIY grafitti, and customers can feel free to personalize theirs. Xiao Yi, a Taobao seller of such handsets has been using it for her cell phone for a few months. "It sells quite well among the young," she told the Global Times. "Compared with the traditional ear plugs, its advantage lies in the freedom from plugging pains in ears. But of course, as it is has a certain weight, about 200 grams, your arm may feel a little sore when holding it too long."

Moreover, the handset also functions as a speaker, so you can also listen to music with it. While Xiao Yi normally uses it indoors, Angy Yung, from Hong Kong, even carries it in his bag when he is walking in the streets and when he receives a call, he just needs to pull the handset out while leaving the cell phone inside. "I like it because it does not make my ears feel burning even if I talk quite long," Yung said as it is quite popular in Hong Kong, he does not really mind if it is too eye-catching.