If you would not play/say it to your grandmother then it should not be publicized.

Cell phones are so common today that most 10 year olds have them. I run a business on my cell phone, and try to answer it in a manner that portrays such an environment. But, there are times I leave my phone in the house (not always on purpose) and my kids will answer it. Most of the time people understand, but sometimes it confuses potential clients and I have to explain that I am a mobile business and run the business off my personal cell phone. I do hate when people call me and then ask to put me on hold, I usually hang up.

Answering machines are almost as ancient at typewriters. I guess if you are referring to the now common system of “voicemail”, I don’t know about everyone else’s system, but I check mine regularly and I have never had any complaints about the machine cutting off messages.  I prefer messages that are direct and to the point, in a message I don’t need the commentary. “Leave your name, number (repeat at least once), and why you are calling”

I don’t do many conference calls, and when I do they are usually with my kids ;-). So I don’t have much to say about them. My biggest pet peeve is when people don’t speak loud enough for the microphone to pick up their voice and it sounds like a broken or scratched CD.

I have a fax machine, and I hate random faxes that waste my paper and ink to tell me about a random cruise line that I will never go on. I totally agree with the etiquette page when it says to call ahead and ask if it is ok to send the fax!

Timing is everything. Because my personal cell phone is also my business line, it is listed in the phonebook, on Google, and many other websites. I don’t mind calls that are legitimately urgent, but sales calls and telemarketing calls need to stay between 10:00am and 5:00pm, any later and they are twice as annoying. If you are calling for my business services I would say etiquette would be to only call between 8:00am and 6:30pm unless it is urgently important. I usually take the calls that come in later in the evening, but I end up not being able to give the caller my full attention, as I am getting dinner on the table and helping with homework, and my other evening family activities.

Screen names and ring tones are always entertaining on my end. Because I am an ordained Reverend and perform wedding ceremonies my normal screen name is Rev Katey or some variation of this. I have a twitter account, facebook account, and utilize them almost daily. I tell my brides and grooms to find my accounts to see pictures of my weddings and stuff, but sometimes I wonder when I get “friend requests” from “Johns Bit__” how serious these girls are about themselves or their potential mates. The latest fad is the ring back tones; these are sometimes offensive with bad words and crude language. I know they are popular, but I don’t want to hear it. This goes for ringtones too, I understand its fun to personalize your phone and set a ringtone to your favorite song, but be aware of who is around you. It goes along with the music in your car… If I wanted to hear your music, I would get in your car with you. I hate being stuck next to someone in a line, or at a stoplight, and having to listen to foul or crude language in the popular music of today.