If you think BenQ Mobile's Hello Kitty handset is just too darn girly for you, you're probably not going to be impressed with its follow-up either. The company is to offer a second AL26 handset, this time boasting a butterfly logo to make it "the perfect fashion accessory for young, style-conscious women".

Which is exactly what it said about the HK handset, I seem to recall.

The florid prose continues: "Delicate purple butterfly motifs adorn the shimmering white casing of this compact slider phone, making the mobile into a top-fashion eye-catcher – and not just for romantic women either... both in Eastern and Western cultures, the butterfly is regarded as a symbol of evolving femininity."

The AL26 offers a slight 130 x 130, 65536-colour screen and a "precise four-way navigation" control. Adds BenQ without a hint of patronisation: "A diary giving an overview by day, week and month as well as a reminder function for important events are on board, as is a high-quality handsfree speech system. Polyphonic ringtones and a practical currency calculator round off the versatile features package."

Doesn't that money stuff just make your head spin, girls? No? Well, I guess my femininity is still evolving...

The AL26 goes on sale mid-September - prices are to be determined locally. ®