Your Cell Phone

Text messaging is a very popular use of cell phones. In America, it was popularized by young people who could use it in places (dare we say classrooms?) where cell phones were not allowed. Text messaging is less noticeable than talking. Text messaging also allows cell phones to be used to convey thoughts whether or not the other person is available. With most cell phones it is much faster to retrieve text messages than to identify and retrieve voicemail messages.

Text messaging is part of the SMS technology of cell phones. SMS refers to “short message service” available on cell phones. SMS can also be used to send other information via cell phones in short bursts. SMS can be used for downloading ring tones and for premium services such as those that send news or programming to cell phones.

SMS services are particularly popular for cell phones users in Europe and Asia. In many countries, people do not have personal PCs and use their cell phones for text messages the way many Americans use email.

Sending text via cell phones can be time-consuming since very few phones have typewriter-style keyboards. Many cell phones use “predictive text software” that tries to guess the word you are starting to type to make the messaging go faster. A whole texting “language” has also evolved for use with cell phones-all sorts of special abbreviations that are understood by experienced “texters.” When texting on cell phones, AFAIK means “As far as I know;” B4N is “bye for now;” COB is “close of business;” DTS is “don’t think so;” ILY is “I love you.” If you don’t really like text messaging, use “F2T”. That means, “Free to talk?” and lets you know it’s okay to call for a real conversation.

Many people seem to think their cell phones are an extension of their personal space. We have all been subjected to someone’s private conversation and thought, “How rude!” Knowing when and when not to talk on cell phones is the core of cell phones etiquette.

If you must use cell phones while waiting on line, or on public transportation, speak softly and remember where you are. Don’t discuss personal subjects. When a group of people are together, those who get calls on their cell phones should excuse themselves and go outside, or at least far enough away not to disturb the conversation. Cell phones do not take precedence over personal conversations; if you are with someone, the best etiquette is not to use cell phones at all. If you must, cell phones etiquette dictates that you ask their permission, and apologize. Make the call brief. It is also poor cell phones etiquette to keep glancing at cell phones to see who has called you or to read text messages.

Public rudeness is not the only facet of cell phones etiquette. When using cell phones, if you enter an area that causes static or interruptions on the line, you should apologize and offer to call back when the signal is stronger. Don’t make the other person strain to hear you, or wonder who should return an interrupted call.

Etiquette is all about consideration for other people. Sometimes without meaning to, we forget to turn off cell phones in areas where it is mandated, such as movie theaters. Practice until you can find your cell phone’s “off” button in the dark without looking.

The final area of cell phones etiquette is the camera. Respect other people’s privacy. Just because cell phones have cameras does not mean you are entitled to become paparazzi!

A growing number of Americans use their cell phones as their only phones, and the use of cell phones instead of land lines is even more common in Europe and Asia. How should you decide if cell phones could handle all your telecommunication needs?

One reason many people used to keep their home phones was their phone number. Today the law allows you to “port” those numbers, even to cell phones. Many people have also found that the “free nights and weekends” offered by most cell phones allows them to scale back their home phone payments. However, to compete with cell phones, the landlines companies have begun offering competitive prices that include unlimited calling.

Using cell phones for all your phone calls can be more expensive than using land lines for all your phone calls. But since most people today use cell phones, upgrading your package of services from the cell phones company could still be cheaper than maintaining both cell phones and land lines.

There are some reasons why you might not want to let cell phones be your only phones. If you use dial-up Internet access, it’s a lot more difficult and expensive to use cell phones than landlines for that purpose. If you’re used to having a phone in every room, you might not want to just have one cell phone unless you are used to carrying it with you at all times. Also, if you do a lot of talking, cell phones need to “sleep” once in a while to recharge their batteries. If your cell phone goes dead while you’re talking, it will take a while before you can finish the conversation.