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Rude mobile users irritate Britons
Friday, July 19 2002
by Andrew McLindon


The ban in Britain on mobile phone jamming systems is unlikely to be lifted
despite irritation among nearly half of its population about mobile usage in
public.













Tom Perrott, research director of the telecoms division of market information
firm Taylor Nelson Sofres, told ElectricNews.Net that the introduction of
legislation that will make mobile signal blocking systems legal is not a high
priority for the UK government and probably will not be introduced in the
short-term.





Perrott also said that factors such as the possible disruption of emergency
mobile communications and 3G geographical location systems mean that the use of
mobile jamming technology will continue to be outlawed in Britain.





However, such technology does have its upside, added Perrott. "Many mobile
users and non-users feel that mobile phone usage can be irritating and they are
keen to see measures taken to limit intrusion," he remarked. "Besides the
actual frustration and annoyance caused by mobiles ringing during a performance
or event, many people also feel that signals can endanger public safety by
disrupting sensitive electronic equipment, particularly in hospitals."





This point of view certainly has the support of a large number of people,
according to a survey carried out by Taylor Nelson Sofres. It found that almost
half of all adults in Britain think that mobile phones should be banned in public
places such as cinemas, restaurants and hospitals.



The survey of 1,032 adults also revealed that a third of Britons have had their
enjoyment of a public event reduced by mobile phone usage.





Predictably, non-mobile phones users were most annoyed about the use of mobile
phones in public places. Nearly two-thirds said mobiles should be restricted
compared to 45 percent of mobile owners.





However, despite the high levels of annoyance, British people are more tolerant
than some of their European neighbours. A similar study carried out earlier this
year by TNS found higher support levels for mobile phone blocking technology
among the French (85 percent), Italian (73 percent) and Finnish (72 percent). The
latter two nations have very high levels of mobile phone penetration.





With Britain unlikely to follow the lead of Australia and Japan, which allow
limited use of GSM blocking systems in public areas such as theatres, Perrott
said other options needed to be explored. These included the introduction of less
disruptive blocking technology and campaigns aimed at educating mobile users
about where and when it is appropriate to use their devices or have them on.





"There have been new technological developments in this area, such as the
testing in Japan of wall-lining materials which significantly reduce the power of
radio signals, and it may be possible to avoid using jamming devices, but still
making areas mobile-free," commented Perrott.





"A public education campaign would also be useful in persuading mobile users to
be more consideration about making or taking calls in public areas in much the
same way as some smokers now tend to only smoke in the vicinity of non-smokers
with their permission," he added.