Cell Phone Jammers force proper etiquette

The jarring din of ringing cell phones is increasingly being thwarted in places such as religious sanctuaries, India's parliament and Tokyo's commuter trains by devices developed so security forces could avoid eavesdroppers and thwart phone-triggered bombs.

India's parliament had portable cell phone jammer installed after politicians ignored requests to turn off their cell phones, which had interrupted legislative sessions. Italy's universities started using the blockers after discovering that cellular-savvy students were cheating on exams by sending text messages or taking pictures of tests.

And at four Roman Catholic churches in Monterrey, Mexico, cell-phone jammers - about the size of paperback books - are tucked unobtrusively among statues of the saints. The churches began using the cell phone zapper, from N Communications Technologies Ltd. in Israel, after an insurance salesman imported them as a personal favor for a priest.

"There are still many people who don't understand that being at Mass is sharing a moment with God, " said the Rev. Juan Jose Martinez, a spokesman for the archdiocese. "Sadly, we had no other choice but to use these little gadgets." At a cost of about $2, 000 each, they can be activated by remote control. Then, they emit low-level radio frequencies that thwart cell-phone signals within a 100-foot radius.

Users get a "no service" or "signal not available" message. Mexico has no law against the devices, but the private use of cell phone blockers is illegal in most Western countries, including the United States. But the tide is turning. Japan allows public places, such as theaters and concert halls, to install the phone zapper if they obtain a government-issued license. Last week, France's industry minister approved a decision to let cinemas, concert halls and theaters install them if provisions are in place so emergency calls can be made.

Canada had considered allowing the call blockers in similar situations. Industry Canada, which regulates the country's telecommunications, decided against it, saying the devices could infringe on personal freedom and affect public safety by crippling communication with security agencies.

Officials at Netline, which sold its first phone blocker in 1998, said that they're selling thousands of cell phone blockers a year and that they've expanded the business worldwide. They're not the only manufacturers. Dozens of suppliers sell the devices over the Internet. Medic Inc. of Tokyo sold thousands of its Wave Wall jammers before the government restricted their use to venues with live performances. Commuters buy mobile jammers to shut up chatty train passengers, though this use is illegal.

Scotish businessman Ronnie McGuire, owner of Electron Electrical Engineering Services, imported Taiwanese cell phone blockers and sold them to hotels, restaurants and bars until a local newspaper reported his activities, which were illegal.

McGuire has said he will continue to import the Taiwanese devices but will sell them for export to countries where they're allowed. Loreen Haim, director of marketing and sales for Netline, wouldn't say how many devices the company sells a year or what nation buys the most. In Mexico, the main clients are banks looking to stop would-be robbers from communicating with accomplices, and the Mexican government is planning to use them at prisons.

The baroque Sacred Heart church in Monterrey is favored by Mexico's elite for weddings. Church officials acquired mobile phone blockers two years ago. "Whenever there was a wedding, cell phones would ring every five minutes, " said Bulmaro Carranza, a parish clerk. "It was a real problem, because there were times when even the groom would forget to turn his cell phone off."

Priests from around Mexico have been calling to find out how to get them, Carranza said.

A device at the entrance to the church and another by the altar are turned on before services. Priests remind parishioners to turn off their phones before beginning the services, hoping that good etiquette will catch on.

The other Monterrey churches with the devices are frequented by wealt But that shouldn't prevent them from having good manners and remembering that one must respect sacred places."

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