March 25, 2005
Wanted: usage policy for mobiles on trains and planes
Plans by London Underground to extend mobile phone coverage to underground stations have been met with as many groans from the commuters as cheers, writes Silicon.
Some commuters fear that soon they will be forced to hear their fellow travellers calling home from the platform to tell their significant other to put the dinner on.
"What is wrong some peace from the infernal stupid ring tones?" commented someone. And many may be nodding in agreement.
There is the inevitable backlash underway; products that jam mobile phone signals are becoming increasingly popular in theatres and cinemas in some countries.
The problem is not the technology - it is the inappropriate use of it that winds everyone up.
Society hasn't developed the do's and don'ts yet, although there are some tentative steps towards it on the way in the form of quiet carriages on some trains, an idea that could be extended further.
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