One afternoon in early September, an architect jumped on a train after overheard a woman in her 20s talking on the phone with someone. "He used the word 'that was' a lot. She looked like one of those 'de borgata' girls," said architect Andrew, who declined to give his last name because what he did later was somewhat illegal.

Andrew put his hand in his shirt pocket and pressed a button on the black device the size of a pack of cigarettes. The latter sent out a very powerful radio signal that neutralized the young lady's cellular transmission - and everyone else within a 30-meter radius.

"The young lady was talking non-stop on the phone for over 30 seconds before realizing that no one was listening to her on the other end," confessed the architect. When he found out he had such power, his reaction was "OMG! I'm finally free".

With cellphone usage soaring in public spaces and unable to stand listening in conversations, a small but growing group of insurgents are turning to a slightly more radical solution: a cell phone jammer, a device that completely cancels the transmission of all cell phones .

Jammer technology isn't entirely new, and jammer exporters from overseas report a daily increase in demand for jammer equipment, sending more than 100 of them to the U.S. a month - prompting a close scrutiny of the matter by federal regulators , and improve the interests of the telephone industry. Consumers include coffee shops and hairdressers, hotels, theatre operators, bus drivers and, increasingly, commuters.

The development is sparking a battle for airspace control. And damage can have side effects. Numb chatterers impose their noise on the unarmed, so they are forced to endure all the noise in silence. And jammers punish not only those responsible for the noise, but also those who talk on the phone in a confidential manner.

"If there's anything characteristic about the 21st century, it's our inability to control ourselves for the benefit of others," said James Katz, director of the Rutgers Center for Mobile Communications Research. "People who make phone calls think they have more rights than those around them. More important, and people with jammers in their pockets think their rights are more important."

Jammer technology works by emitting radio signals so powerful that cell phones are cancelled and can no longer communicate with cell towers. Jammers range from a few centimeters to a few meters, and devices cost anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars. Larger devices can stay on, creating a true no-go zone for phones.

The use of jammers on U.S. soil is considered illegal. The radio frequencies used by phone users are protected, just like those used by radio and television broadcasters.

The FCC argues that people who use jamming devices could be fined up to $11,000 for first-time offenses. The commission's enforcement office has indicted several U.S. companies and found them guilty of supplying the devices -- not just the jammers, but the companies that used them.

"Last year, investigators from the Commission and Verizon Wireless visited a well-known upscale restaurant in Maryland," said the owner, who declined to be named and admitted to paying $1,000 for a jammer because he was tired of seeing his employees eyes on the phone instead of the customer.

"I told them: put your phone away, put it away now," but they ignored him.

Commission investigators stayed for about a week looking for jammers using special equipment, the owner said. But the owner has turned them off.

The work of the Verizon investigators, as well as the committee, proved to be in vain. "Yes, he went to anyone in town, gave them his phone number, and said to warn him immediately in case they had trouble calling," the owner claims, who has since stopped using the distraction device.

Obviously, it is impossible to detect the use of small battery-powered jammers, such as those used by annoying commuters.

Committee spokesman Clyde Enslin declined to comment on the matter, nor on the Maryland case.

Phone companies pay tens of billions of dollars to lease frequencies from the government, as long as others don't interfere with their signals. In addition to this, there are other additional costs. For example, Verizon Wireless spends $6.5 billion annually to build and maintain its infrastructure network.

"It's counterintuitive that these types of devices will find a market when wireless users have a clear and strong need for extended phone coverage," said Verizon spokesman Jeffrey Nelson. The telephone operator suggested a public safety Problem: Criminals can even use signal jammer to stop people from calling for help in an emergency.

Leading cell phone association CTIA has asked the FCC to keep jamming devices illegal and continue to prosecute violators of the rules amid growing debate over the devices. He argues that the motion filed is in response to two companies applying to use jamming devices in specific situations, such as in prisons.

Those who used the jammer displayed a touch of guilt when they disrupted, while others had a playful side and took pleasure in the misfortune of others. "It's amazing just to watch dull teens use their phones to take it out and swap lines. Can you hear me? No! Okay," one jammer user wrote in a review on DealExtreme's website.

Gary, a therapist in Ohio, declined to identify himself, citing the illegality of such devices, arguing that the use of frequency suppressants is essential to getting the job done. Gary does group therapy for eating disorders. During one session, a woman's confession was interrupted due to the rudeness of another participant.

"He was talking about sexual abuse," Gary said, "and when the other participant's cell phone rang, he continued to call rudely, to say the least, regardless of the woman's sensitive subject.

"People don't understand etiquette anymore," Gary declared. "It's an epidemic."

Gary went on to say that despite a clear and transparent policy against cellphones, calls are interrupted every time they are treated. Four months ago, he bought a jammer for $200 and hid it in part of the room. He told his patients that if they were waiting for an emergency call, they should provide their phone number at the front desk. He did not disclose any information about the jammer.

Gary bought the jammer from a website in London. The site's manager, Victor McCormack, said he ships about 400 jammers a month in the U.S., up from 300 a year ago. He claims the order number for souvenirs has exceeded 2,000 pieces.

Kumaar Thakkar, a Mumbai resident in India who sells jammers online, said he was exporting 20 units a month to the United States, nearly double the previous year. Clients include bar and hair salon owners and even a New York school bus driver named Dan.

"The kids thought they were smart, hiding under their seats and using their phones," Dan wrote in an email to Mr Taka, thanking him for selling him the jammer. "Now kids can't understand why their phones aren't working, they can't ask for an explanation because they're going to get in trouble! How fun it is to see them looking for a signal."

San Francisco-based architect Andrew said using the distraction device was fun at first, but over time it became a way to keep quiet on the train home. Instead, he now admits to using it more economically and prudently.

"At this point, it's satisfying just to know that I have the power to block other people's calls," Andrew confessed.