Matching Nail Polish Too

Motorola cell phones and radios have for decades been popular with police officers, government officials and no-nonsense businesspeople partial to basic black devices. These groups clearly are not the target market for the company’s new periwinkle phone cover, designed by teen cosmetics firm Hard Candy.

The new purplish faceplate, the first of several Hard Candy colors to be offered this year, will “allow users to coordinate the look of their phones with their nail polish or their outfits,” said Hard Candy’s founder, Dineh Mohajer.

Not a bad idea. Nokia has made a fortune courting teens with hip and stylish changeable phone faceplates.

But the new phone covers fit only Motorola’s i50sx wireless phone--a hybrid two-way radio and cell phone that works on networks used primarily by construction firms, taxi companies, sales forces and other workers.

It’s hard to see them dressing their phones in periwinkle covers with a “velvety soft-touch texture,” but you never know. Maybe Nextel built up a big teenage customer base on the sly and this is just what they’ve been waiting for.

If so, they can buy the periwinkle package at https://www.myhardcandyphone.com beginning May 1. For $39.95, buyers get the phone faceplate, matching battery door and coordinating bottle of Hard Candy nail polish.