Mind
Your Mobile Manners
The mobiles
industry wants as many people
as possible to enjoy the benefits
of mobile telecommunications
and encourages individuals to
use their mobile phones in a
responsible manner and to be
considerate and aware of situations
where using their mobile phone
might annoy others.
1.
When
in doubt, always go out
When possible
go outside or to another room
to make your call if your call
might disturb others. Also,
features such as text messaging
answering services, call diversion
and vibration alert can be used
to receive important calls without
disturbing others.
2. If
you can?t turn it off, use silent
mode
If you need
to keep your phone on for important
calls, then turn it to silent
or vibrate mode. It?s the ring
of a mobile phone in inappropriate
places and times such as at
the tennis or in restaurants
which annoys people the most.
3. When
required turn your phone off
and check it?s off
There are
some places where people should
never talk on a mobile phone
or send text messages and where
the ringing of a mobile phone
or message alert is considered
highly unacceptable, such as:
movies, stage shows, weddings,
funerals, concerts, speeches,
classrooms and lectures. In
these cases, turn your phone
off and remember to check it?s
off before you enter the venue.
You can always check your voicemail,
text messages or your answering
service afterwards.
4. Keep
your conversations private
People?s
sense of personal space varies
in each situation. Making a
call in a busy pub may be okay,
but talking loudly in a confined
space like a lift or on a train
tends to infringe on others
personal space. Be aware of
where you are and who you are
with and what others are doing
before deciding to make or accept
a call. In some situations it
might be better to send a text
message.
5. Speak
softly
Mobile phones
have very sensitive microphones
that can pick even the softest
voice, so there is no need to
shout. If you are having trouble
hearing the other caller, check
that you have the volume on
your phone set high enough.
6. You
don?t always have to answer-
use your messaging service
It?s a natural
reflex to answer your phone
if it rings, however, if you
forget to put your phone on
silent or vibrate mode and it
rings at an inappropriate moment,
send the call to voice mail
or your answering service (usually
by pressing the hang-up key).
7. Talk
to the one you?re with
If you receive
a call during a conversation,
send the call to your voicemail
or answering service. Your first
priority should be to the person
you are with. However, if you
are expecting an important call
let the person you?re with know
before the call arrives and
excuse yourself before accepting
the call.
8. Don?t
send inappropriate messages
Messaging
is a great way to communicate,
but don?t send offensive or
threatening text, voice, picture
or any other sort of message,
because it is a criminal offence
to use a mobile phone to menace
or harass someone. Also receivers
can save messages and easily
identify you as the sender.
9. Respect
others' privacy when using in-phone cameras
In-phone
cameras shouldn?t be used anywhere
a normal camera would be considered
inappropriate, such as in change
rooms or toilets. You should
ask for permission before you
take someone?s picture. Also
bear in mind that some venues do
not allow the use of cameras
and may refuse entry to
anyone with one.
10. Ban
the ring: not the phone
Wherever
conversations are normally acceptable,
venues can help by asking people
to turn their phones to silent
or vibrate mode rather than
turning it off. This approach
will help with compliance, especially
for people who need their phone
for important calls. Venues
can also assist by reminding
people to set their phones to
silent mode, before they enter.
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