According to a recent survey of 150 senior executives by Robert Half Management Resources, it's common for professionals to read and respond to email messages during meetings, although about one-third disapprove of the practice. Thirty-seven percent believe it's okay to respond to email if the message is urgent, while 23 percent said executives should excuse themselves from the meeting before responding to email. Of all methods, the least disruptive is using handheld email devices during meetings. If you have to check email during a meeting, be discrete and set it on vibrate. Also, consider your audience. Your coworkers may be more forgiving of your need to respond to e-mail than a client, for example. Respond only if it's urgent, and step out of the room if possible. Also, know when to let go. It's better to bow out of a meeting altogether than be distracted during most of it.

To get more about email etiquette:
- read the article at CIO Update