| Author | Message | ||
     Ray_maines |
Churches Wage High-Tech War on Cell Phones Sep 22, 8:30 am ET MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Some Mexican churches are using state-of-the-art technology developed by Israeli electronic warfare experts to silence cell phones that ring during mass, church officials said on Tuesday. Four churches in the northern city of Monterrey, which lies some two hours by car south of the Texas border, are using equipment made by Israeli telecoms equipment firm Netline Communications Technologies to block incoming calls during services. The Tel Aviv-based company was set up in 1998 by former military and defense industry specialists to develop mobile telephone jamming systems, mainly for the security industry. "Before we had the system, it was very uncomfortable hearing calls coming in during the celebration of mass. But now it's 95 percent quiet," said Bulmaro Carranza, a caretaker at the city's Baroque-style Sacred Heart church. The signal-jamming equipment is packed into two wall-mounted boxes the size of small hi-fi speakers, with one beside the altar and the other at the church entrance. Switched on just before the start of every service, the system causes a "no signal" message to be displayed on worshipers' phones, but causes them no lasting damage. "We believe that we were the first church in Mexico to use this technology," Carranza said. "Now we are getting calls from all over the country to see how it can be installed." | ||
| Midknyte |
"Now we are getting calls from all over the country to see how it can be installed." ah, the irony | ||
| Sandblast |
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| Outrider |
I like it. Sounds like something that should be installed in most places of employment as well. Right along with software that prohibits web surfing and posting on boards like this during office hours. LOL | ||
| Cataract2 |
Need those in movie theaters. | ||
| Midknyte |
No we don't. What your surgeon was out enjoying dinner or a flick when you need him most. What we need is people with the sense to place them on vibrate and just leave the room to take a call... | ||
| Outrider |
What we need is people with the sense to place them on vibrate and just leave the room to take a call... Midknyte, good post. I believe you are referring to responsibility and consideration of others. Not enough of that in this world. | ||
| Dhutty |
I've heard about this technology before. We don't have it in the States in places like theaters and resturants because it's illegal. In the article I read a few years ago said these devices can't withstand First Amendment challenges (Freedom of Speech.) I think some theaters put them in on the sly and hope they don't get caught. Doctor - Surgeon problem: we've had Doctors and Surgeons going to resturants and the movies long before we had cell phones. I agree that people need much better cell-phone etiquette. I cannot stand phones going off at the movies and the theater. Here in New York City I've seen some pretty creative "turn off your cell phone" curtain speeches that work really well. | ||
| Philip |
i try to always put mine on silent and let it vibrate. i also don't understand why people think they have to talk twice as loud into the phone. i talk in an almost whisper and have never been told i could'nt be heard. i also love the walkie talkie phones that let everybody hear both sides of the conversation! |
