want to meet some friends in rome - no one has cell phone - thought we might just say the colloseum station at the front... is that do-able? or is it too big/crowded - too many entrances etc.

I would chose a restaurant, you can have refreshments while you wait and there is no question about entrances, etc.

I have found this is a good less stressful way to meet someone, second best way is a fountain.

none of us have been to rome before -so we don't know a restaurant - fountain might be a good idea though.

Does it have to be the colosseum metro [one of the busiest]? What does the front mean -up or down? I think you need to be a bit more specific, and try to chose somewhere less busy - if you want to be in this area, why not try Cavour, which is the next stop up, a very interesting area [called monti] and enough restaurants to keep you busy for several weeks.

I would pick a less busy, less ambiguous place such as the Piazza Navona. Hang out at the large Bernini fountain in the center of the Piazza and people watch.

Spanish Steps where you can sit and people watch while you're waiting.