It's for you! People walking around here, on the bus, on the subway, on the train, in the movie theatre, in the stores, at restaurants, at tourist sites, are all on their phones, all the time. Like it isn't good enough to be doing what you're doing, you have to be jonesing for the next new thing. And it isn't good enough to be with who you're with, you have to be on your way to the next fabulous party, like Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol. Exactly like them, in fact; it's the 'Cult of the New' writ small, personalized. Anything is meaningful if it's New. Anything is better if it's New. Anything is worthwhile if it's New. And ONLY if it's New. You're only worth something if you can prove that you're New (people calling), or at least if you're going where it's New (you calling them).
It just shows how insidious capitalism is, perverting relationships and people's personal lives. Because of course the Cult of the New is what is used by advertising to stimulate consumption, thus profits, and to encourage as well a constant dissatisfaction that can only be (temporarily) assuaged by consuming more, better, New. The whole definition of 'new' (and its normative consumerist component of 'better') implies dissatisfaction with what is current, or what is old. Unless of course the old can be made New in the form of antique collecting - an expanding field thanks, in part, by acceleration of production quantities caused by, you guessed it, the Cult of the New. Not only can the notion of 'retro-' collectible embrace things produced as recently as 10 years ago, but even, in a particular cannibalistic variation, (would-be) old things can be collectible while they're new, such as beanie babies, or action figures released as collectibles with movies.
Being with people who presumably want to spend time with you since they're accompanying you at the moment (old), is not as valuable as the new people who might be calling, or called, that it would be better to spend time with, because they are New. The only reason to spend time with friends in the present is really to have someone witness that you are only passing through, marking time, on your way to something better and New. Or because you're really not better and New but being with people, even if not New, at least prevents you from being alone. But at any rate general protocol dictates that it is important to display the cellphone prominently, ringer on, next to your plate, near your glass, in your front pocket or hand; anywhere, in sum, between you and the people you're with. Who in showing up have already been 'consumed' and are thus worth nothing, New.