Question about cell phone security

I didn't really know how to title this question because it might be dumb and well..anyway...

I work in a government building with SECRET and CLASSIFIED areas and we aren't allowed to use our cell phones. We can have them but they have to be turned off if we are in a room that has any SECRET computer or any documents...My office happens to be one of those offices..

So my question is..if I have my cell phone turned on but turned to silent where they wouldn't hear it..other than them physically catching me or seeing me with it is there any other way for them to tell I have it on? I usually just send text messages to my friends when I get bored...

And I think this is along the same lines of "In a plane can they tell I have my phone on during take off when they tell you to turn them off?"

Thanks for any help...and sorry if this seems pretty retarded but they just put this rule into action and I'm just curious.

If they tried calling you and your phone is on, they'd be able to tell by the fact that your phone is ringing.

Just play by the rules. There are other ways to amuse yourself when you get bored :) I also have the feeling that if you were caught, it could lead to unpleasant results, especially if you're working with sensitive material. I'm betting you probably don't want to lose your security clearance. (I don't know what the criteria would be to lose that, but I'm assuming that that wouldn't help.)

I don't think anything big would happen. Probably just yell at me and tell me to turn it off..or make me let them hold it until I get off of work. They just put this in effect today and everyone else in my office is still using theirs..(i Guess they didn't read the email.) I have it turned off..but I really was just curious if they had some way of telling, ya know.

I'm not about to lose my job over some stupid text message I could have waited for :]

It's more likely that they are worried about unshielded electronics then you being a spy. That's why you aren't allowed to use phones on planes. Electronics (specifically radios) that aren't properly shielded against microwaves can be disrupted if you use your phone.

So they could tell in that sense or would just see that someone used a cell phone?

I'm just trying to understand that part...I understand the security risks and why they don't want cell phones in those areas...but the electronic side of it confuses me..

if your phone's on, it's transmitting all the time
(it needs to be in almost constant contact with the nearest phone mast - this is so the phone network knows which mast to send your incoming calls to)

because it's transmitting all the time, they can monitor any phone use by monitoring the right frequencies
plus, if they're determined, they can triangulate your position to within a few metres

*edit*
btw, somewhat relevant
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/...cle3945496.ece

ohhh...ok..I think i get it a little bit now...Thanks!

:]