Japan has had multifunction smartphones longer than the rest of the world, but one feature is new even to the cellphone-loving Japanese: a ringtone that cures hay fever. The offering from Japan Ringing Tone Laboratory—which also sells a gizmo that purports to be a dog-to-human translator—is designed to dislodge pollen stuck in the user's nose. To take advantage of the miracle treatment, sufferers must hold their ringing phones up to their noses.

Other ring tones promise weight loss, and some can be tailored to the users' astrological sign for maximum effectiveness. The company that promotes Japan Ringing Tone Laboratory's products acknowledges that the tones have not been thoroughly tested.