There was a time when public use of
a cell phone was unforgivably gauche. Nowadays, however,
it’s difficult to ride a bus without hearing the opening strains of
Mozart’s 40th in MIDI format. For a primer on modern cell-phone
manners, the experts at Nextel offer the following list.
You rang? Ringing telephones aren’t only an
intrusion at the movie theater or in the boardroom. Nextel suggests
you check with those around you even at restaurants or the gym
before taking calls.
Quiet on the headset. For the next passenger
over, your barking into a cell phone is worse than any bite. Keep
your carpool conversation quiet and brief.
Good vibrations. Make use of the vibrate
function. Setting your phone accordingly will spare your colleagues
the disruption and save you the embarrassment of a ringing pant
leg.
Citizens unite. Use your city’s airwaves for
good. Emergency numbers like 911 receive more than 100,000
life-saving reports a day from cell phone users.