A research by the University of Surrey demonstrates that the soaring use of mobile phones, laptop computers and PDAs are affecting the patience of others in the workplace.

Colleagues request that a certain etiquette should be respected when using mobile phones in the workplace.

More than half of the respondents believed it was inappropriate to use IT equipment in a meeting or when speaking to someone at work and more than 80% felt it was wrong exchange SMS when with others.
Some 60% of those surveyed said there were informal rules for the use of IT equipment at work, while two out of five said the use of mobile phones was not allowed.

However, the study suggests that younger workers are less likely to be upset by others answering mobile phone calls during meetings.

Details in BBC Technology.