People text, e-mail, surf the web and even, watch videos (presumably with the sound off) during meetings. So, the question is, if everyone is doing it, should you bring your little SmartPhone…
Blackberries, iPhones and Androids: Do SmartPhones Belong in Meetings?
In a word, "No."
I once worked for a company where when meetings started, the meeting leaders would say to turn all that stuff off because the company was paying for people to be physically AND mentally present at meetings. That message came from the CEO.
I tend to agree with that CEO, though it was very unpopular with the younger set.
My SIL just asked me if everyone at my company brings their blackberries to meetings. No they do not. One of our managers may if they are expecting an important call, but that is it. If they do receive a call they excuse themselves for a couple of minutes while they take it. She works for a large insurance company where employees receive a blackberry from the company. Everyone brings them to meetings; texting and emailing throughout. She finds it really annoying. I think your comment, “People who aren’t contributing to the meeting should not be there” sums it up.
If it's a stupid boring meeting that I don't need to attend and is a waste of my time, then yeah, I want something to distract me.
The quick answer to this question is "Absolutely Not"!! Phones of any kind should not be allowed in business meetings. This is very disrespectful to the person talking at the meeting to have everyone looking down at their cell phones instead of paying attention. Playing with your cell phone in a business meeting or on company time in general is a waste of company time and thus money.
as all the above say, i agree to them, as to an extent it cuts a big piece of the meeting, a smart comment, ur cell screen lighting up, all these minor acts pull out the concentration and focus out of the meeting, also it hinders others' attention in the meeting hence wasting the entire effort of the meeting.