Abstract: An alert apparatus for connection to a cellular telephone for alerting approaching persons that the user of the cellular telephone is speaking on the telephone and is thus occupied, the apparatus including an apparatus connecting means for connecting to the cellular telephone circuit; an apparatus circuit extending from the apparatus connecting means and including an apparatus power source, active circuit detection means connected to the connecting means for detecting when the telephone microphone is operational and for sending an actuating signal only when the telephone microphone is operational, alerting means connected to the detection means for receiving the actuating signal from the detection means and thereupon generating a bystander alert when the telephone microphone is operational.