Jacqueline Whitmore, Protocol School of Palm Beach

“No one wants to dine with me,” confessed Jacqueline Whitmore. People tend to get self-conscious around an etiquette expert (salad fork, shrimp fork — which one is OK to lick?). Thankfully, she doesn't get too lonely these days, especially since she began targeting a group with a growing need for her advice: cell phone users.

Whitmore tutors corporate employees looking to preen their professional images, devoting two hours in her day-long “techno-etiquette” seminar to proper wireless protocol.

Her lessons may seem like common sense, but in a study released in April by nonprofit research house Public Agenda, 49% of respondents said they were often annoyed by loud mobile phone conversations, while only 17% of cell phone owners said they were guilty of such behavior. In another poll, 39% said they took calls in public restrooms, another no-no in Whitmore's book (“Who wants to hear flushing and all of that?”)

To promote the first-ever Cell Phone Courtesy Month in July, Whitmore (who invented the holiday) has partnered with Sprint PCS for a corporate tour, giving free seminars to select corporations. Sprint PCS salespeople are on hand to field technical questions — and sell phones. Although Sprint PCS calls it nothing more than fun promotion, Whitmore said rudeness could backfire if left unchecked.

“I'm seeing a lot more businesses putting restrictions on places where you can and cannot use cell phones,” she said. “It could hurt the industry if it's not addressed.” Restaurants in New York began adding “no cell phone” sections as early as 1999. And the trend hasn't stopped there.

“I'm seeing more people take personal calls on business time in cubicles where people can hear their conversations,” Whitmore said. “Businesses are up in arms. I said, ‘You have 15-minute smoke breaks. Maybe you should have cell phone breaks.’”

Just don't take them in the bathroom. Please.