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At work and play, Americans depend on the convenience of their wireless phones to stay in touch - but often don't recognize that in the process they are intruding on the privacy of others. The 2005 Sprint Wireless Courtesy Test is the latest in the company's efforts to promote courtesy and reduce the country's annoyance level with such things as wireless phones ringing during movies, at funerals or in business meetings.

Sprint's etiquette spokesperson Jacqueline Whitmore, founder and director of The Protocol School of Palm Beach and the originator of Cell Phone Courtesy Month, says it's a matter of perception. "People aren't being rude intentionally; it's just that many don't realize the impact their mobile phone behavior has on those around them," she said. "That's why for years, Sprint has been pushing for consumer awareness about the 'responsibilities' that go along with the convenience wireless technology provides. And that's why Sprint is putting its courtesy test online again this year - to see if there is any improvement."

Last year Sprint commissioned a nationwide research project - the 2004 Sprint Wireless Courtesy Report1 that detailed wireless phone behavior - and the Wireless Courtesy Test was part of it. Nearly 15,500 individuals completed the online test in one month. In many ways, the results reflected the findings of the actual scientific national sampling.

The study's major finding was that while the overwhelming majority of Americans said people were less courteous when using a wireless phone than five years earlier, they themselves were not at fault. Additional results: 80 percent said wireless callers are getting worse and 97 percent of those surveyed said, "I'm not part of the problem," rating themselves as either "very courteous" or "somewhat courteous" in their use of a wireless phone. In the Sprint.com quiz, 30 percent scored between 90 to 100 percent, 31 percent scored 80 to 89 percent, and 39 percent had between 0 to 69 percent of the answers correct.

Participants can then match their scores against others and link to Jacqueline Whitmore's Ten Tips for Cell Phone Courtesy for a short self-improvement course. The results from the 2004 research project will be posted there as well. Sprint will keep the Wireless Courtesy Test active throughout July and August.

Whitmore is also the author of the new book, "Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work," which will debut in bookstores in July and has specific chapters on techno-etiquette. She says new-age etiquette amounts to old-fashioned courtesy and common sense.

"Consider the feelings of others," she says. "Don't intrude on what they are doing. If a call is expected in a social or business setting, warn the others it's coming and excuse yourself from the room when it does. Don't talk on your mobile phone while a clerk is trying to help you. Keep your voice down." And Whitmore says to be especially careful in public venues. "It's disrespectful to have a phone conversation in a restaurant while those around you are eating, and be sure to silence your phone when going to the theatre, a concert or worship."

Whitmore reminds us that we all have a self interest in appropriate wireless behavior. "Poor wireless etiquette can have a negative impact on how you are perceived both professionally and socially. Think about that before talking loudly about intimate matters on your mobile phone in a crowd of people."

Conducted in June, 2004 The Sprint Wireless Courtesy Report is based on an online survey among a nationwide sample of U.S. adults subscribing to wireless phone services. Of the 723 participants, 28 percent were from the South, 25 percent from the Northeast, 24 percent from the Midwest and 23 percent from the West. Of the respondents, 59 percent were female and 41 percent were male. The margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 4 percent.