Cell Phone Etiquette

Cell phone etiquette is taking a nose dive, according to most surveys. But who is at fault is not so clear. Add ringtones, music phones, radio programming, mobile TV, audiobooks and other "bells and whistles" associated with multimedia phones and you have the makings of a really complex situation ahead for mobile phone etiquette.

Let's Talk Etiquette The Death Of Civility Ten Commandments

The Sprint Wireless Courtesy Report Where Are Your Wireless Manners? Movie Theaters May Ask To Jam Phones

Etiquette - Courtesy Of Online Phone Retailer

With more than 200 million cell phones in the U.S., inconsiderate cell phone habits are turning into an epidemic. A lack of basic cell phone etiquette at the office, the dinner table, and in the car is frustrating Americans more than ever, according to research by online retailer LetsTalk.com.

"With the proliferation of cell phones in our society and the onslaught of new ways to use your cell phones, consumers are becoming increasingly confused about setting boundaries," says CEO Delly Tamer of LetsTalk.com, whose guidelines are based on comprehensive annual surveys on cell phone etiquette and behavior since 2000. Here's a summary.

• When in doubt - mute.
• Choose ringtones you won't regret.
• Yak, don't yell.
• When in earshot keep it short.
• Don't text and drive.
• Excuse yourself before taking the call.
• Say please before they say cheese.
• If it's an emergency, take the call.

Click here for the full guide on cell phone etiquette.

Sprint Wireless Courtesy Report

Through its periodic cell phone etiquette quiz, wireless carrier Sprint offers an opportunity for you to know how well you mind your mobile mannners, and provides cell phone courtesy tips.

The 2005 Sprint Cell Phone Etiquette Online Quiz was preceded by the 2004 Sprint Wireless Courtesy Report.

In the 2004 cell phone etiquette quiz, 30 percent scored between 90 to 100 percent, 31 percent scored 80 to 89 percent, and 39 percent had between 0 to 69 percent of the answers correct.

"People aren't being rude intentionally; it's just that many don't realize the impact their mobile phone behavior has on those around them," said Sprint's etiquette spokesperson Jacqueline Whitmore.

Ms. Whitmore, founder and director of The Protocol School of Palm Beach, is the originator of Cell Phone Courtesy Month. Her book - Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work - includes specific chapters on techno-etiquette.

The Death of Civility

Ten Commandments Of Cell Phone Etiquette

"There are some real abuses of wireless technology being perpetrated all around us, and the time has come to create some social order out of the cell phone chaos," Dan Briody wrote in his Wireless World column in InfoWorld. "This is by no means an exhaustive list simply because as the technology evolves, new annoying traits will surely emerge. But commandments usually come in tens, so think of this as the first Ten Commandments of cell phone etiquette, with amendments to follow."

Where Are Your Wireless Manners?

In a CNN article subtitled, "As public unplugs, rudeness seems to be getting worse," Amy Cox warns: "The only thing advancing quicker than wireless innovation may be the rudeness of the people using the technology, experts say." [more]...