Theatregoers will no longer have to put up with noisy phones as Microsoft is developing a device that will jam the mobile signal inside buildings. The Telegraph reports.

“The company is developing a “device manners” system, which could force all mobiles on to silent mode and end the need for polite warnings before performances.

The system would use wireless technology to connect with mobiles in theatres and cinemas, forcing them to be silenced, barred from calls or switched off altogether.

In documents submitted to the US patent office, Microsoft also states that libraries and galleries could block visitors’ digital cameras from photographing copyrighted work.

… So-called “phone jammers”, which block reception in a small area, have been available on the black market for some time, but their use is illegal in Britain and punishable by hefty fines.

Manufacturers have been lobbying for a relaxation of the ban but have faced resistance from Ofcom, the telecoms regulator. “