That perception has not deterred Uniden and other companies from attempting to raise the cordless phone's technology status. XACT Communication, a maker of telephones, radios and satellite radio receivers, has recently introduced a cordless phone, the XG2500, that makes even the smallest cellular handsets seem bloated.

David Rose, the executive sales manager at XACT, said the company had noticed the growth in the use of headset telephones just over two years ago. Headset phones generally come in two varieties: some plug into a conventional wired telephone or telephone jack; others are specially designed cordless phones. But to Mr. Rose they share a common failing: the headset cord tangles easily. "I'd probably hang myself if I used one," he said.

XACT decided the answer was to create a cordless phone so small that all of its components except for a recharging base could fit into a user's ear.