Text messaging from beyond the grave?

Making a cell phone call from the bathroom is one thing. But from a coffin?

According to the BBC, people are now asking to be buried or cremated with their cell phones.

Researchers told the news agency that the practice apparently originated in Cape Town, South Africa, as a protection against witchcraft.

In other countries, it's more about showing off.

"People wanted to be buried with the totems that they felt represented their lifestyle," Martin Raymond, director of international trend-spotting think tank, The Future Laboratory told the BBC. "We came across one guy who asked to be buried with his mobile phone and his BlackBerry, and also with his laptop."

Blog community response:

"I'd hate to be on the other end of that phone call."
--Genealogue

"However much we love our Treo, we can't imagine wanting to be buried with it. For one thing, the alarms keep going off. And what if it rang during the funeral? Wouldn't that terrify the mourners? On second thoughts, maybe we should have it popped into the coffin. We could have it play Amazing Grace, as they lowered the box."
--Bleeding Edge

"Oh, come on! Cell phones in the grave? Is there no place you can go and not listen to the guy next to you yacking?"
--Dvorak Uncensored