Cell phones may have made life easier for most of us, but they have also invaded our private space! Be it the airports, elevators, bank, conference rooms, movie hall or restaurants, rude and infernal yakking on mobile phones, with no regard for the situation or the surroundings is common.

Mobile phone subscribers are multiplying, and so are unpleasant and annoying situations, not to forget car accidents! Not only does work suffer, relationships too bear the brunt of the constant attention to the buzz of the phone.

Here are a few tips on do's and don'ts of mobile phone usage:

Don'ts

• Never take a personal mobile call during a business meeting. This includes interviews and meetings with co-workers or subordinates.
• 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.
• 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.
• Maintain at least a 10-foot zone from anyone while talking.
• Never talk in elevators, libraries, museums, restaurants, theaters, dentist or doctor waiting rooms, places of worship, auditoriums or other enclosed public spaces, such as hospital emergency rooms or buses.
• People's sense of personal space varies in each situation. 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.
• Speak softly. Mobile phones have very sensitive microphones that can pick even the softest voice, so there is no need to shout.
• Don't send offensive or threatening text, voice, picture or any other sort of message. Remember 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.
• Don't use loud and annoying ring tones that destroy concentration and eardrums.

• Keep your conversation brief and to the point.
• Use an earpiece in traffic or noisy locations.
• Tell callers when you're on a cell phone and where you are - so they can anticipate distractions or disconnections.