Splitting cells.

Cellular phones have moved beyond the status stage to a necessary communication tool. The options are now beyond selections of ring tones, games, text messaging, and digital cameras.

Soon there will be blending of services that many pocket PCs offer, including e-mail, Internet access, MP3 player, digital recorder, mapping and directions, and traffic alerts. You will be able to subscribe to services and download information and directories. For small monthly fees you can get instant access to stock information, entertainment, or even real time leader board information at a distant NASCAR event. Cell phones are performing more multitasks as the capacity of memory chips increase. Truly, cell phones are morphing into mini-computers.

The hospitality business should be embracing this new technology. Our members/customers conduct business and will extend their stays at our establishments as long as they can stay in touch with their office and their customer base. We may all differ on the value of being able to always stay-in-touch, but it has increased productivity and has given us a sense of security.

As in any new widget there are those who need to be trained how to use their new toys. Yes, the self-importance of a cell phone user in a public place strutting, gesturing, and talking louder so that everyone can hear him now is annoying. Those who lack cell phone etiquette are most likely from the same gene pool who cut in line, never make reservations, display road rage, take a full grocery basket through the Express Line, share their custom mobile CD music blaster to everyone in a five block radius, bullies the T-ball coach, and always seem to sit next to me on a transcontinental flight. I have to admit there are some amusing opportunities when they leave their cell phone on at a funeral, in a meeting with their boss, in a job interview, at a wedding, or at religious service (just in case God wants to talk to them directly).

Yet as cell phone users and the associated equipment and software evolve, we must continue to accommodate the responsible user. Those who are banning cell phones in their restaurants and clubs are driving beyond their headlights. Now is not the time to embrace cell celibacy. Airlines are already expanding cell phone use. Innovative concessionaires at football, baseball, and basketball stadiums are allowing their spectators to use their cell phones to have their sports snacks and beverages delivered to their seats. Schools are relaxing their bans on cell phones and pagers because of security, emergency, and safety reasons.

More than half of the U.S. population has a cell phone. The fastest growing segment of consumers is teens and pre-teens. Since telephone booths are no longer on every corner, even Superman has had to go mobile. Superman is aware of basic cell phone safety when flying. Although he has always been faster than a speed dial, he uses the hands-free feature when he is leaping tall buildings in a single bound.

If you don't have a lot of super employees, then you should consider reviewing cell phone usage at your facility. Lately, drivers with cell phones have gotten a lot of attention. Your company should emphasize that the employee's greatest responsibility is to the safety of other drivers, pedestrians, and passengers. Other components of a cell phone policy should include the use of personal cell phones in the work place as well as company issued cell phones.

Think about it. At one point we all had guidelines which limited personal phone calls while employees were at work. After all, we did not want our employees constantly being interrupted and compromising productivity. Well, we lost some of that control when we did away with our PBX operators. Employees have also learned to circumvent the system by bringing their personal cell phones to work.

I had a cerebral cell moment recently. I frequently stop by a local convenience store. Roxanne, the attendant, is always cheerful and helpful. She is constantly juggling sales of gas, ice, sodas, fudge squares, lottery tickets, giving directions, and still has time to tell you to have a nice day. OK, it is not too complicated, but she is a single mom and she always has her cell phone teetering of her shoulder refereeing the latest sibling crisis at home. We all tolerate her lack of focus, because after all the gas was cheaper, her fudge squares were always fresh, and she was not our employee.

It was then that I started noticing how my employees were using their cell phones at work. A stroll through the kitchen revealed the sous chef stirring a pot over gas flames with one hand and a firm grasp of his cell phone with the other. A waiter was in the ballroom cleaning up after a function with a tray in one hand while having an animated mobile-to-mobile conversation. I also discovered that an accounting clerk had just discovered text messaging. We already had rules on personal use of computers, copiers, or accessing the Internet for personal use, but we had been silent on cell phone usage. Sure, I was already aware of several high profile cases where an employee behind the wheel was driving a company vehicle on a company assignment with a company issued cell phone when in the middle of a congested intersection his boss called and.... This is where you should stop reading and immediately hold a training session and issue a cell phone policy for all of your employees with cell phones. If you were already ahead of me, then expand your policy to include personal use of cell phones at work.

It is obvious that cell phone use will not decrease anytime soon, so whether you decide to adopt a policy or not, it may be helpful to provide employees with some common sense safety precautions. The next time you decide to update your employee handbook, you might want to consider adding a segment on cell phone usage. Also, in your next member newsletter, include etiquette tips on cell phone usage at your facility.

We should all stay vigilant on the health issues associated with electromagnetic fields. We should also at least make an effort to try to understand the cell cult concept of Flash Mobs. Is it really a meaningless, spontaneous convergence of strangers or is it just frivolous folks with too much time on their hands?

A sample copy of Cell Phone Policy and Cell Etiquette can be made available to you by contacting [e-mail], or for a deeper understanding of Flash Mobs contact flocksmart.com or flashmob.info.