Why Are We Still Calling the Things in Our Pockets 'Cell Phones'?

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobra9777 I use WiFi for all calls and text as long as I'm in a WiFi network, which is most of the time. It has nothing to do with the cellular reception. WiFi calling is free, whereas Ting mobile data usage is not. The only time I connect to a cell tower is when I'm actually mobile, i.e. NOT on a WiFi network.

Exactly. All the cafes, restaurants, pubs, malls and supermarkets around here have wifi and once you have connected that first time it automatically connects once you are in range.

[sengsational]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathy63 Whenever I hear a phone referred to as a brick, it reminds me of the days when I had to carry one of these for my job. They were the size, shape and weight of an actual brick, so that's what we called them. They did have texting, email and access to search online databases over 20 years before the first iPhone though.

I never carried one of those, but my customers were always impressed by their functionality; it was something nobody else in the industry had.

But "Brick" is not an appropriate name for today's mobile devices because "to brick your device" means that it's startup code is gone or corrupt such that the device might as well be set on the floor to keep a door from closing.

Shortened "cell phone" to "cell" doesn't quite work because it uses other bands. But shortened "mobile phone" to "mobile" works for me. The sci-fi books call them "personal communication device", "data pad", or things like that.

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldShooter Because they are cell phones?

For many people, surely you realize the phone is one of the least used functions after text, email, internet browsing, map directions (more current than any GPS), apps, calculator, time, stopwatch, reading books, watching video, gaming, listening to music, camera, (audio) recording device, social media, payment device, even a flashlight, and on and on...

When my smartphone rings it's either 1) bad news, or 2) some cold caller I don't want to talk to. If mine rings and I don't recognize the number (already in my contacts), there's no way I'll answer. If you leave a message, I'll call you back if I know you. It's mostly older generations who still value the phone itself over other smart functions, some of them still prefer flip phones.

[braumeister]

In German, it's called a "handy" (yes, the English word).

It came from the old military term "handle-talkie" for a handheld two-way radio.

Even today, most amateur radio operators refer to one as an "HT" (for handle-talkie).

[ERD50]

Why Are We Still Calling the Things in Our Pockets 'Cell Phones'?

Ummm, because they are still "phones"? Though it seems most people refer to these as "smart phones" these days, if they refer to them at all. People just say 'text me', or 'call me' , or 'email me', or 'Face-Time me' or 'Skype me' w/o referencing the device. You could do most things on a tablet or computer too.

But anyhow, I guess it is also the same reason we still:

Call a "Swiss Army Knife" a "knife".

Call a turbo-charged engine an "engine".

Call a Hybrid Car a "car".

Call a combination refrigerator-freezer a "refrigerator" (unless we are specifically telling someone to put something in the freezer section).

If I use the scissors of my Swiss Army Knife the most often, and I lose it, does the OP expect me to go into the store and ask if they have any scissors? No, I think I'll ask to see their Swiss Army Knives!

I don't get the reason to question this, or if it's even commonly true?

-ERD50

[Bestwifeever]

I usually call it a cel. But it has a phone number so I don't know why it's not considered a phone.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever I usually call it a cel. But it has a phone number so I don't know why it's not considered a phone.

Good point. I just asked DW, if she met someone, and wanted to text them later, what information would she ask them for?

"Their phone number".

I suppose a 'hipster' might say "Let's exchange contact info", but face it - the number you use to text someone is a phone number. No two ways about it. Even if the term itself is somewhat archaic (but not really, not yet). And until that changes, and probably for sometime after, the usage will persist. Like the term "dial tone", though dial telephones became rare decades ago.

I really don't get OP's point.

-ERD50

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever I usually call it a cel. But it has a phone number so I don't know why it's not considered a phone.

Your tablet has a number too.

[Bestwifeever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh Your tablet has a number too.

A phone number? I don't do calls on my tablet, anyway.

[braumeister]

When I call a doctor's office, the machine usually says "If this is a medical emergency, hang up and dial 911."

What is this "dial" thing?

[Ready]

I refer to mine as an iPhone, because well, that's what it is.

If Apple changes the name, I'll go with that eventually.

[Bestwifeever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 Good point. I just asked DW, if she met someone, and wanted to text them later, what information would she ask them for? "Their phone number". I suppose a 'hipster' might say "Let's exchange contact info", but face it - the number you use to text someone is a phone number. No two ways about it. Even if the term itself is somewhat archaic (but not really, not yet). And until that changes, and probably for sometime after, the usage will persist. Like the term "dial tone", though dial telephones became rare decades ago. I really don't get OP's point. -ERD50

Hipsters get each othets' digits.

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever A phone number? I don't do calls on my tablet, anyway.

Yes. To find it on my iPad, I go to Settings, General, About, Cellular Data Number. It is shown with a 1 before it. This number is used to transmit texts. It is also used for FaceTime.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204380

[bw5972]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack For many people, surely you realize the phone is one of the least used functions after text, email, internet browsing, map directions (more current than any GPS), apps, calculator, time, stopwatch, reading books, watching video, gaming, listening to music, camera, (audio) recording device, social media, payment device, even a flashlight, and on and on...

My view of the this is skewed by the fact I last had a landline in 2003. Every call since has been on a cell phone. Though I make/receive less calls these days, the telephony function is still very relevant to me.

[Bestwifeever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh Yes. To find it on my iPad, I go to Settings, General, About, Cellular Data Number. It is shown with a 1 before it. This number is used to transmit texts. It is also used for FaceTime. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204380

That is interesting for tablets that have cellular data. For my wifi only tablet (I did not pay for the cellular option), there is no cellular data number.

[pb4uski]

Perhaps because it is a phone and uses the celular network to make and receive calls (amongst other handy functions).

[Bamaman]

I spent most of my 36 1/2 working years on the telephone. Now that I'm retired, I do good to make 5 calls a month. That worked out to $10 per phone call.

I cut off my cell phone and I feel like a bird out of a cage. My wife carries one, and she drives me crazy when I'm driving and she's talking to her smartphone like it's a person.

My millennial daughter is like a one armed person, and she's got carpel tunnel. Next, I expect her eyesight to go south due to micro fonts. I question why someone that's so fiscally challenged (broke) puts such importance to having a cell phone to talk and text to her socially challenged (trashy) "friends."

No thanks to that little expensive luxury.

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever That is interesting for tablets that have cellular data. For my wifi only tablet (I did not pay for the cellular option), there is no cellular data number.

If you have a iPad and it shares the WiFi connection with your iPhone, the iPad will make and receive calls without cellular data.

[Bestwifeever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan If you have a iPad and it shares the WiFi connection with your iPhone, the iPad will make and receive calls without cellular data.

I know (even though I never use my tablet for that) but it still doesn't have a phone number or a cellular data number. It can also be used to make and receive facetime audio calls and video communication through wifi on its own using email addresses, unlike my cel phone, which uses a phone number, but I would never consider it a phone.

[redshift]

DW and I just call them our phones. Ditched our landlines years ago, so no confusion there. Used to sometimes call them 'blinky', but that name is now reserved for our robot vacuum.