Hot Sheet

*THE DOUBLER Ericsson recently unveiled the Phone Doubler, which allows Internet users to make and receive phone calls while logged onto the Internet without requiring a second line. Local exchange carriers must be fuming because while the product is doubling profits for Ericsson, it is halving theirs.

*SEND ME A LOVER Pilgrims and jolly ole St. Nick descended on New York City during the appropriate holiday seasons to promote Seimens' new digital handset. In a promotion co-sponsored by Omnipoint, the would-be Plymouth Rockers and holiday elves invited pedestrians to try out the new digital handset. Wonder what the next holiday promotion will be. Maybe Cupid matching up prospective dates via wireless?

*WORMY-WORLD ANTAGONISM WormWare Productions recently introduced Apoptosis, the toy for cellular phone haters. The device can disconnect any cellular call within a 15-foot radius. One writer suggested that wireless carriers actually might like this product because subscribers must reconnect after their calls are Apoptosis-ized. That's doubtful. The device creates a little thing called a dropped call, which often gives carriers a big headache called churn.

*NO ARM'S-LENGTH ETIQUETTE WormWare may be an appropriate name for vengeful users who carry the above product. If cellular phone use is so disturbing, this editor suggests getting a backbone, walking over and saying, "Excuse me, but I find your phone use disturbing. Would you please take it down the hall?"

*I CANNOT TELL A LIE Apparently when people lie, are being deceptive or are feeling particularly tense, subtle tremors emanate from their vocal cords. Interestingly, a $3,900 Truth Phone can detect these fluctuations. Although rather pricey now, it may have some potential for reducing wireless phone fraud. "Do you swear this is your phone and your service?"

*NOT QUITE THE FORTUNE 500 The good news is Tom Wheeler can say he finally made the list in Fortune magazine. The bad news is the list in question consisted of three "overpaid" association execs. According to Fortune, 1995 tax returns showed his income as approximately $542,000.

*CONCEPTS NEVER DIE In the James Bond campaign, Ericsson shows its visionary concept of the phone of the future. It seems that the campaign is a raving success for exposing the consumer masses to the potential of wireless technology. However, Ericsson may not be so thrilled after hearing this recent experience: While I was using my pocket-size flip phone, friends ogled because they thought it was the new 007 phone. No, I replied, this one is a Motorola.

*IF LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD COULD Further evidence of the impact of wireless technology. In a recent Dennis the Menace cartoon, Dennis asks his mother why Little Red Riding Hood just didn't use her cellular phone and dial 911? If the fairy tale were rewritten today, Dennis' mom would say, "Because location technology isn't available yet."