CHARLOTTE, N.C. - What's that hanging from your hip? Or buried in your purse?

Maybe it's a spunkless factory cell phone in need of a makeover. Or maybe you're already on top of the game.

When your phone rings, everyone hears Prince's "U Got the Look." And you're way too stylish to have a factory faceplate: Pamela Anderson covers your phone and you've got a handcuff charm hanging from the antenna.

Just 15 years ago, cell phones were clunky anvils that few could afford. Today, they're must-haves, and young people are driving the movement to make them hipper.

"They want the good stuff," said Bryan Biniak, senior vice president for marketing at AG Interactive and general manager of AG Mobile. "It's a statement about who you are and it's reasonably affordable. You can't necessarily afford a $100,000 Bentley, but you can have the hottest phone."

In the past few years, cell phones have created a cottage industry for accessories. Ringtones, wallpaper, faceplates, charms, cases, purses, flashing antennae and more give phones personal pizzazz.

At the Wireless Shop kiosk in Eastland Mall in Charlotte, N.C., recently, Christa Grace searched for a faceplate. She had many to choose from: Tupac, a $100 bill, Playboy bunny, Phat Farm. Grace, 19, settled on a pink Baby Phat cover for her clamshell Motorola V-180.

"You can change your personality and then you can change your phone," explained Grace, who also has ring tones and wallpaper for her phone.

Ring tones started as a functional device to help distinguish callers without looking at the phone, but now they send a message about the phone's owners.

Some young people change their ring tones daily, said Theda Sandiford, brand director for Def Jam Mobile. The tones can be a popular song or even your own poetry.

"It's really a way for you to broadcast to the world what your point of view on life is," she said.

Customizing phones is so popular that Vonage held a "Pimp My Phone" contest. The winner received $2,000 and a year of free Vonage phone service. And after-market accessories barely skim the surface of tricked-out phones. Manufacturers now sell fashion phones. For example, the Nokia 7280 looks like lipstick. Vertu has a line made of platinum, 18-carat yellow and white gold. Designer Anna Sui designed a limited-edition phone for Samsung.

It's not high fashion, but Nextel sells NASCAR phones, which have the number of your favorite driver on the case. They sell well in the Charlotte area. After all, racing was born here Make it your own

Here are some trinkets to hook up your phone. Most can be found online or at wireless stores.

Wraps and faceplates: You're too cute to carry the standard gray or black phones. Your phone is an ode to West Coast Choppers or John Deere. $9.99-$24.99.

Wallpaper: Change the backdrop of your phone's LCD to display your favorite star, team, etc. Free and up.

Ring tones: A phone that rings is so '03. Tell everybody you're hot with the Pussycat Dolls "Don't Cha" ring tone. Free to $2.99.

Swarovski Crystals: Can you see me now? Make your phone sparkle with crystals. "Each Bling Ring kit comes with a Bling Bag in either gold or silver!" boasts Swarovski. www.myblingring.com. $125.

Cases and purses: Go simple with a universal holster or get fancy with a Dooney & Bourke case.

Cell Style

If you need a spunkier cell phone, try these:

Moto Razr V3: "With the precision-cut keypad, minimalist styling and metal finish, the V3 looks just as beautiful as it performs," claims Motorola. Retail: $399. www.motorola.com

Nextel NASCAR Cup Series: Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett available. NASCAR-themed wallpapers and ring tones. Built-in racing stopwatch. Retail: $149.99. www.nextel.com

Nokia 7280: "Smoothly slides open to reveal the cunningly hidden camera and breathtaking mirror-finish display," Nokia says. "Stand out like a flame in the darkness with the unique rotator." Retail: $499. www.nokia.com.

Samsung SCH N330: "Sleek and distinctive pop-up screen with steel blue accenting. But it is the rhythm of the beat that makes this phone unique, with Immersion's VibeTonz touch sensations," according to Mobiledia. Retail: $249.99. www.1800mobiles.com

Vertu Signature: Platinum, 18 carat white and yellow gold, stainless steel. Retail: $18,750. www.vertu.com.

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© 2005, The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.).

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