Business Notes Communications

It's hard to hide the annoying sound of the ubiquitous beeper, but now you can improve its appearance. The latest fashion accessory for those who like to stay in touch is the beeper cover, available in quilted, metallic or even mock-crocodile leather. At $22 to $26, the cover is a hot item at Macy's and other department stores. "Sales have tripled since its introduction four months ago," says Jerry Gelbwaks, president of Do-Rio, which distributes the covers for the manufacturer, Beeper-Tux. Experts predict that the use of beepers will increase more than 16% this year, but with some of them under wraps, who'll know?