In the history of telephone technology, etiquette has not often been a concern. Generally, as long as the caller was polite to the person he was conversing with, everything was okay. However, the advent of cell phones brought with it the likelihood of having ongoing phone conversations with strangers present. This fact necessitates some rules of etiquette that still have not been firmly established.

For this reason, AT&T has implemented the Be Sensible program, a public service program designed to promote wireless device etiquette. It's easy to practice cell phone etiquette with a little bit of forethought. Here are some of the main courtesy issues that all cell phone users should consider.

Ringing--When going to a location where a ringing phone is likely to disturb others, such as a hospital, movie theater or church, make sure your phone is set to vibrate or the ringer is turned off. In fact, it's a good idea to get into the habit of checking your phone's ringer status every time you leave the house.

Call Volume--No one wants to hear someone's private phone conversation. Speaking even in a normal conversational voice can be distracting or even disturbing to others if you do it in a public place. If you must take or make a call in public, then modulate your voice appropriately or try to find a private spot to take the call.

Recipient--Keep in mind that the intended recipient of your call may not be in a position to receive calls at the current time. Try to anticipate appropriate call times, and if you aren't sure, then send a text message instead. If you've called and left a voicemail, then there's no need to call back again five minutes later.

Movie Theaters--A survey has shown that movie theater patrons are especially disturbed by cell phone use during a movie. Shut your phone off before you enter the theater and if you must take a call, then take it outside.

There are also issues of cell phone safety that the Be Sensible program attempts to target. In particular:

Driving--Drivers on cell phones can create an extreme danger for those around them. Driving, especially in high traffic areas, requires a much higher level of alertness than many realize. Try to use hands-free cellular products (always do so if required by law) and postpone your conversation if you are in a hazardous or complicated driving situation.

Emergencies--If someone is in jeopardy, your cell phone might save his or her life. Using a cell phone to call for help is one of the great societal benefits of wireless phone technology. Look for opportunities to use your phone in this manner.

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