Tech giant Microsoft is planning to launch a new feature in its next range of Windows Mobile phones, which would allow users to 'smack' their cellphones to silence the ringing, if they do not wish to answer it, or if it rings at the wrong time. The software giant has patented the idea, which might see a 'whack-based audio control module' that would sit at the centre of the phone, and with a suitable 'whack', the phone can be turned silent.

"There are a variety of circumstances under which it may be desirable to quickly control a device without having to interact with a traditional user interface," the Daily Mail quoted Microsoft, as stating, in the patent.

"For example, often mobile device users forget to set their mobile devices in a silent or vibrate mode and the device rings or makes sounds at an inopportune moment," it added.

The feature can been used, say for instance: if someone's phone starts ringing during a big presentation or the final part of the wedding vows, instead of scrambling for the 'off' switch or the volume button, one can simply smack the screen and silence their phone.

Microsoft says the whack could silence ringtones, an accidental button-press, which turns the music on, an alarm or a text message sound, the paper said.

Many other phone systems have a similar set-up, such as HTC and Samsung models , which can be silenced by turning the phone flat onto a desk in order to mute a distaction, it added.