What's Sam Serving?

Dear Mobile Phone Manufacturer:

I want a "Hold" button. Not just any hold button, but one with a specific purpose - to act as a receptionist for me when it's momentarily inconvenient for me to answer my phone.

What I want:

• A hold button on the outside of the phone (a friend suggested the manufacturer's logo)
• A default message that says, "Please hold. I'll take your call in a moment."

How it works:

• My phone rings while I'm:
• watching a movie in the theater
• conversing with someone face-to-face
• placing a food order
• completing a purchase at a checkout counter
• attending a meeting
• I press the hold button.
• The caller hears the hold message AND a repeating tone to indicate the call is still connected.
• I complete my activity or move to an appropriate place for a phone conversation.
• I answer the call.
• If I don't answer the call within one minute, my phone rings again.

Additional features:

• Customizable hold greeting
• Play my ringtone to the caller while on hold (also suggested by my friend)
  

My friend's comment on this letter:

Perfect! Finally a phone feature that is useful.

I want it on all models across their line... don't put this feature only on the camera phones with the built-in PDA, MP3 player and hair dryer. Everyone can use this feature, regardless of the other options.

Where can I buy one?

T

I completely share in his desire to have it on all models. Doing so may well help foster the re-emergence of some manners in our society. It may also prevent legislation of mobile phone use in public buildings and policies in private facilities.

Please give great consideration to the addition of this feature. I'm more than ready for it and I think many mobile phone users are, too. I also bet most people who directly and indirectly interact with mobile phone users are ready for this.

Kind regards,
S.A. "Sam" Moore
___________________________

This was submitted to the following companies on February 10, 2006:

• Motorola (Actually, Moto has not received this idea. Their on-site communication form yields no confirmation of my message having been sent [I tried several times with different PC's and with different browsers] and I have received no acknowledgment of it from them. Upon further investigation on their site, I find a phone number to call to leave my name and address so they may send me forms to complete. I called and left the info; we'll see just how complex these forms are. I have a feeling Moto will not be receiving this information. I also informed them of my notification of many other manufacturers and of the inadequacy of Moto's submission method. This is a shame. I use a Moto phone and like their products.)
  
• Nokia (personalized form response)
  
• Sony Ericsson (personal response & directions to submit via snail mail - done)
  
• Samsung (form response)
  
• LG (form response suggesting contacting service providers because "our products are manufactured according to the service provider's request")
• Siemens (form response)
  
• Hewlett Packard (no response)
  
• RIM Blackberry (nice form response)
  
• Nextel/Sprint (best response - "Thank you for replying back with the confirmation and for such a nice suggestion. We always welcome such suggestions. I have forwarded your suggestion to the appropriate department. You will certainly find this feature in the near future.")
  
• Sanyo (failed delivery notification)
  
• Cingular (My service provider - personal response - "Unfortunately, we have no direct correlation with what is included in the phones when they are manufactured. This may be something you would want to refer to the actual phone manufacturer's." - Hmmmm... LG's reply seems to conflict with Cingular's position. Cingular sells LG phones.)
  
• T-Mobile (automated response)
  
• Virgin Mobile (form response)
  
• Verizon (personalized form response)
  
• SunCom (response that's pretty indicative of the customer service I know SunCom delivers, rather fails to deliver - "At this time, this service is unavailable with our network.")
  

If you think other companies should be contacted with it, please leave their names in the comments.