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{{Short description|Portable device to make telephone calls using a radio link}} | |||
{{dablink|For other senses of the word, see ].}} | |||
{{For|the modern mobile phone|Smartphone}} | |||
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A '''mobile phone''', or '''cell phone''',{{Efn|Also known as a '''cellular phone''', '''hand phone''' or '''pocket phone''', and sometimes shortened to simply '''mobile''' or just '''phone'''.}} is a portable ] that allows users to make and receive ] over a ] link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones (]). This radio frequency link connects to the switching systems of a ], providing access to the ] (PSTN). Modern mobile telephony relies on a ] architecture, which is why mobile phones are often referred to as 'cell phones' in North America. | |||
A '''mobile''' or '''cellular''' ''']''' is a long-range, portable ] for personal ] over long distances. | |||
Beyond traditional ], digital mobile phones have evolved to support a wide range of additional services. These include ], ], ], and ] (via ], ] or ]), as well as short-range wireless technologies like ], ], and ] (UWB). | |||
Most current mobile phones connect to a ] of ]s (]s), which is in turn interconnected to the ] (]) (the exception are ]s). Fully automatic cellular networks were first introduced in the early to mid 1980s (the ] generation). The first fully automatic cell phone system was the ] (NMT) system, introduced in 1981. | |||
Mobile phones also support a variety of ] capabilities, such as ], ], and ]. In addition, they enable multimedia playback and ], including video content, as well as ] and ]. Furthermore, mobile phones offer ] services, such as ] and ], as well as business applications and ] (via ] (NFC)). | |||
Prior mobile telephones (the so-called ] generation), such as ], date back to 1945. These were not categorized as cellular phones, since they did not support ], i.e. automatic change of channel frequency in the middle of a call, when the user moved from one cell (base station coverage area) to another. | |||
Mobile phones offering only basic features are often referred to as ]s (]: ''"dumbphones"''), while those with advanced computing power are known as ]s.<ref name="Srivastava">{{cite book |last1=Srivastava |first1=Viranjay M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fkO9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 |title=MOSFET Technologies for Double-Pole Four-Throw Radio-Frequency Switch |last2=Singh |first2=Ghanshyam |date=2013 |publisher=] |isbn=978-3319011653 |page=1}}</ref> | |||
Until the mid to late 1980s, most mobile phones were sufficiently large that they were permanently installed in vehicles as ]s. With the advance of ], currently the vast majority of mobile phones are handheld. In addition to the standard voice function of a ], a mobile phone can support many additional ] such as ] for text messaging, ], ] for access to the ], and ] for sending and receiving photos and video. | |||
The first handheld mobile phone was demonstrated by ] of ] in ] on 3 April 1973, using a handset weighing c. 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs).<ref name="Inventor">{{cite web |last1=Teixeira |first1=Tania |title=Meet the man who invented the mobile phone |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/8639590.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=2 July 2021 |date=23 April 2010}}</ref> In 1979, ] (NTT) launched the world's first cellular network in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-21|title=Timeline from 1G to 5G: A Brief History on Cell Phones|url=https://www.cengn.ca/information-centre/innovation/timeline-from-1g-to-5g-a-brief-history-on-cell-phones/|access-date=2022-02-18|website=CENGN|language=en-US}}</ref> In 1983, the ] was the first commercially available handheld mobile phone. From 1983 to 2014, worldwide mobile phone subscriptions grew to over seven billion; enough to provide one for every person on Earth.<ref name="ITU">{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/332274/there-more-mobile-phones-people.html |title=Mobile penetration |quote=Almost 40 percent of the world's population, 2.7 billion people, are online. The developing world is home to about 826 million female internet users and 980 million male internet users. The developed world is home to about 475 million female Internet users and 483 million male Internet users.|date=9 July 2010}}</ref> In the first quarter of 2016, the top smartphone developers worldwide were ], ] and ]; smartphone sales represented 78 percent of total mobile phone sales.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3323017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160522162950/http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3323017 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 22 May 2016 |title= Gartner Says Worldwide Smartphone Sales Grew 3.9 Percent in First Quarter of 2016 |publisher= Gartner |access-date= 21 May 2016}}</ref> For feature phones {{as of|2016|lc=y}}, the top-selling brands were Samsung, ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.strategyanalytics.com/strategy-analytics/blogs/enterprise/wearables/emerging-devices/2017/02/24/nokia-captured-9-feature-phone-marketshare-worldwide-in-2016 |title=Nokia Captured 9% Feature Phone Marketshare Worldwide in 2016 |publisher=Strategyanalytics.com |date=24 February 2017 |access-date=7 September 2018}}</ref> | |||
The world's largest mobile phone manufacturers include ], ], ], ], ], ]<!--(formerly the handset division of ]) Well not. Kyocera is Japanese but Qualcomm is American. Qualcomm is just shipping the chips.-->, ], ], ], ], ], ] (Matsushita Electric), ], ], ], ], ], ], ] ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
Mobile phones are considered an important human invention as they have been one of the most widely used and sold pieces of consumer technology.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | doi=10.1002/hbe2.112 | title=Mobile phones: Impacts, challenges, and predictions | year=2019 | last1=Harris | first1=Arlene | last2=Cooper | first2=Martin | journal=Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies | volume=1 | pages=15–17 | s2cid=187189041 | doi-access=free |issn=2578-1863 }}</ref> The growth in popularity has been rapid in some places, for example, in the UK, the total number of mobile phones overtook the number of houses in 1999.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/591443.stm | title=BBC News | Business | Mobile phone sales surge }}</ref> Today, mobile phones are globally ubiquitous,<ref name=":1">{{cite journal | url=https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/1963533.1963545 | doi=10.1145/1963533.1963545 | title=Ubiquitous mobile phones are becoming indispensable | year=2011 | last1=Gupta | first1=Gireesh K. | journal=ACM Inroads | volume=2 | issue=2 | pages=32–33 | s2cid=2942617 }}</ref> and in almost half the world's countries, over 90% of the population owns at least one.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.itu.int/highlights-report-activities/highlights-report-activities/agenda_section/mobile-phones-are-becoming-ubiquitous/ |title=Mobile phones are becoming ubiquitous |date=17 February 2022 |website=] (ITU) |access-date=17 June 2022 |archive-date=4 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904055723/https://www.itu.int/highlights-report-activities/highlights-report-activities/agenda_section/mobile-phones-are-becoming-ubiquitous/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
The world's largest mobile phone operators (based on customer totals) include ], ], and ]. | |||
==History== | |||
There are also specialist communication systems related to, but distinct from mobile phones, such as ]. Mobile phones are also distinct from ]s, which generally operate only within a limited range of a specific base station. Technically, the term ''mobile phone'' includes such devices as ]s and pre-cellular mobile phones such as those operating via ] which do not have a ], whereas the related term ''cell(ular) phone'' does not. In practice, the two terms are used nearly interchangeably, with the preferred term varying by location. | |||
{{Main|History of mobile phones}} | |||
There are lots of different networks on mobile phones. Some are pay as you go, where you can buy top ups and add them to your phone, so there is no monthly bill, and some are pay monthly. This means you get a bill every month for how much calls and texts you make. | |||
] of Motorola, shown here in a 2007 reenactment, made the first publicized handheld mobile phone call on a prototype DynaTAC model on 3 April 1973.]] | |||
A handheld mobile radio telephone service was envisioned in the early stages of radio engineering. In 1917, ] inventor ] filed a patent for a "pocket-size folding telephone with a very thin carbon microphone". Early predecessors of cellular phones included ] radio communications from ships and trains. The race to create truly portable telephone devices began after World War II, with developments taking place in many countries. The advances in ] have been traced in successive "generations", starting with the early zeroth-generation (]) services, such as ]'s ] and its successor, the ]. These 0G systems were not ], supported a few simultaneous calls, and were very expensive. | |||
] is widely considered to be the inventor of the cell phone. Using a modern, if somewhat heavy portable handset, Cooper made the first call on a cell phone in 1973. At the time he made his call, Cooper was working as Motorola's General Manager of its Communications Division. Motorola had developed the idea of using cellular communications on a portable platform (i.e., a handset)in a non-vehicle setting. | |||
] 8000X. In 1983, it became the first commercially available handheld cellular mobile phone.]] | |||
] | |||
The first handheld cellular mobile phone was demonstrated by ]<ref name="John F. Mitchell Biography">{{Cite web |url=http://www.brophy.net/PivotX/?p=john-francis-mitchell-biography |title=John F. Mitchell Biography |access-date=4 October 2012 |archive-date=23 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223150703/http://www.brophy.net/PivotX/?p=john-francis-mitchell-biography |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Who invented the cell phone">{{Cite web |url=http://www.brophy.net/PivotX/?p=john-francis-mitchell-biography#CELLPHONEINVENTOR |title=Who invented the cell phone? |access-date=4 October 2012 |archive-date=23 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223150703/http://www.brophy.net/PivotX/?p=john-francis-mitchell-biography#CELLPHONEINVENTOR |url-status=live }}</ref> and ] of ] in 1973, using a handset weighing {{convert|2|kg|lbs}}.<ref name="Inventor"/> The first commercial automated cellular network (]) ] was launched in Japan by ] in 1979. This was followed in 1981 by the simultaneous launch of the ] (NMT) system in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tekniskamuseet.se/mobilen/engelska/1980_90.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022043906/http://www.tekniskamuseet.se/mobilen/engelska/1980_90.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2008 |title=Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology |publisher=Tekniskamuseet.se |access-date=29 July 2009 }}</ref> Several other countries then followed in the early to mid-1980s. These first-generation (]) systems could support far more simultaneous calls but still used ] cellular technology. In 1983, the ] was the first commercially available handheld mobile phone. | |||
]s have a ] that stretches back to the 1950s, with hand-held cellular radio devices being available since 1983. Due to their low establishment costs and rapid deployment, mobile phone networks have since spread rapidly throughout the world, outstripping the growth of ]. | |||
In 1991, the second-generation (]) digital cellular technology was launched in Finland by ] on the ] standard. This sparked competition in the sector as the new operators challenged the incumbent 1G network operators. The GSM standard is a European initiative expressed at the ] ("Conférence Européenne des Postes et Telecommunications", European Postal and Telecommunications conference). The Franco-German R&D cooperation demonstrated the technical feasibility, and in 1987, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between 13 European countries that agreed to launch a commercial service by 1991. The first version of the GSM standard had 6,000 pages. The ] and ] awarded ] and ] the 2018 ] for their contributions to the first digital mobile telephone standard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ieee-ukandireland.org/duke-of-cambridge-presents-maxwell-medals-to-gsm-developers/|title=Duke of Cambridge Presents Maxwell Medals to GSM Developers|publisher= IEEE United Kingdom and Ireland Section|date= 2018-09-01|access-date= 2020-12-10}}</ref> In 2018, the GSM was used by over 5 billion people in over 220 countries. The GSM (2G) has evolved into 3G, 4G and 5G. The standardization body for GSM started at the CEPT Working Group GSM (Group Special Mobile) in 1982 under the umbrella of CEPT. In 1988, ] was established, and all CEPT standardization activities were transferred to ETSI. Working Group GSM became Technical Committee GSM. In 1991, it became Technical Committee SMG (Special Mobile Group) when ETSI tasked the committee with UMTS (3G). In addition to transmitting voice over digital signals, the 2G network introduced data services for mobile, starting with ] text messages, then expanding to ] (MMS), and ] with a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 384 kbit/s (48 kB/s). | |||
] has the highest mobile phone penetration rate in the world, at 164% in December 2005. The total number of mobile phone subscribers in the world was estimated at 2.14 billion in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mobiletracker.net/archives/2005/05/18/mobile-subcribers-worldwide|title=Total mobile subscribers top 1.8 billion}}</ref> Around 80% of world's population have mobile phone coverage as of 2006. This figure is expected to increase to 90% by the year ].<ref></ref> | |||
] | |||
At present, ] has the largest growth rate of cellular subscribers in the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4331863.stm|title=Mobile growth fastest in Africa}}</ref> African markets are expanding nearly twice as fast as ] markets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2068420,00.html|title=Phone revolution makes Africa upwardly mobile}}</ref> | |||
] mobiles and modems, 1997–2003]] | |||
The availability of ] or ] services, where the subscriber does not have to commit to a long term contract, has helped fuel this growth on a monumental scale, not only in Africa but on other continents as well. | |||
In 2001, the third-generation (]) was launched in Japan by ] on the ] standard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.umtsworld.com/umts/history.htm |title=History of UMTS and 3G Development |work=Umtsworld.com |access-date=29 July 2009 }}</ref> This was followed by 3.5G or 3G+ enhancements based on the ] (HSPA) family, allowing ] networks to have higher data transfer speeds and capacity. 3G is able to provide ] access of several ] to smartphones and ] in laptop computers. This ensures it can be applied to mobile Internet access, ], video calls, and sending large e-mail messages, as well as watching videos, typically in ] quality. | |||
All European nations and most Asian and African nations have adopted ]. In other countries, such as the ], ], ], and ], legislation does not require any particular standard, and GSM coexists with other standards, such as ] and ]. | |||
By 2009, it had become clear that, at some point, 3G networks would be overwhelmed by the growth of bandwidth-intensive applications, such as ].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ece.iupui.edu/~dskim/Classes/ECE695MWN/2006-saeed-Capacity_Limit_Problem_in_3G_Networks.ppt | title=Capacity Limit Problem in 3G Networks | author=Fahd Ahmad Saeed | publisher=Purdue School of Engineering | access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> Consequently, the industry began looking to data-optimized fourth-generation (]) technologies, with the promise of speed improvements up to tenfold over existing 3G technologies. The first publicly available ] service was launched in Scandinavia by ] in 2009. In the 2010s, 4G technology has found diverse applications across various sectors, showcasing its versatility in delivering high-speed wireless communication, such as mobile broadband, the ] (IoT), ], and multimedia streaming (including music, video, ], and ]). | |||
== Mobile phone culture or customs== | |||
In fewer than twenty years, mobile phones have gone from being rare and expensive pieces of equipment used by businesses to a pervasive low-cost personal item. In many countries, mobile phones now outnumber land-line telephones, with most adults and many children now owning mobile phones. In the United States, 50% of children own mobile phones. It is not uncommon for young adults to simply own a mobile phone instead of a land-line for their residence. In some developing countries, where there is little existing fixed-line infrastructure, the mobile phone has become widespread. According to the ] the UK now has more mobile phones than people . | |||
Deployment of fifth-generation (]) cellular networks commenced worldwide in 2019. The term "5G" was originally used in research papers and projects to denote the next major phase in mobile telecommunication standards beyond the ]/] standards. The ] defines 5G as any system that adheres to the ] (5G New Radio) standard. 5G can be implemented in low-band, mid-band or high-band millimeter-wave, with download speeds that can achieve ] (Gbit/s) range, aiming for a network latency of 1 ms. This near-real-time responsiveness and improved overall data performance are crucial for applications like ], ] and ], ], IoT, and critical communication services. | |||
With high levels of mobile telephone penetration, a mobile culture has evolved, where the phone becomes a key social tool, and people rely on their mobile phone address book to keep in touch with their friends. Many people keep in touch using ], and a whole culture of "]" has developed from this. The commercial market in SMS's is growing. Many phones even offer Instant Messenger services to increase the simplicity and ease of texting on phones. Cellular phones in ], offering Internet capabilities such as ]'s ], offer text messaging via standard e-mail. | |||
==Types== | |||
The mobile phone itself has also become a ]ic and ] object, with users decorating, customizing, and accessorizing their mobile phones to reflect their personality. This has emerged as its own industry. The sale of commercial ] exceeded $2.5 billion in 2004 . | |||
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===Smartphone=== | |||
] | |||
{{main|Smartphone}} | |||
] has become an important issue with mobiles ringing at funerals, weddings, movies, and plays. Users often speak at increased volume which has led to places like bookshops, libraries, movie theatres, doctor's offices, and houses of worship posting signs prohibiting the use of mobile phones, and in some places installing signal ] to prevent usage (although in many countries, e.g. the United States, such equipment is illegal). Transportation providers, particularly those doing long-distance services, often offer a "quiet car" where phone use is prohibited, much like the designated non-smoking cars in the past. ] is also prohibited, because of concerns of possible interference with aircraft radio communications, although the airline Emirates have announced plans to allow limited celluar phone usage on some flights. Most schools in the U.S prohibit cell phones due to the high amount of class disruptions due to their use, and due to the possibility of photographing someone (without consent). | |||
Smartphones are defined by their advanced computing capabilities, which include internet connectivity and access to a wide range of applications. The ] measures those with Internet connection, which it calls ''Active Mobile-Broadband subscriptions'' (which includes tablets, etc.). In developed countries, smartphones have largely replaced earlier mobile technologies, while in developing regions, they account for around 50% of all mobile phone usage. | |||
===Feature phone=== | |||
]s and ] that can capture video and take photographs are increasingly being used by companies like Scoopt to cover breaking news. Stories like the ], the Indian Ocean ] and ] have been reported on by camera phone users on photo sharing sites like ]. | |||
{{main|Feature phone}} | |||
Feature phone is a term typically used as a ] to describe mobile phones which are limited in capabilities in contrast to a modern smartphone. Feature phones typically provide ] and ] functionality, in addition to basic ] and ] capabilities, and other services offered by the user's ]. A feature phone has additional functions over and above a basic mobile phone, which is only capable of voice calling and text messaging.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/62894/feature-phone|title=feature phone Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia|website=www.pcmag.com}}</ref><ref name="forbes-twoweeks">Todd Hixon, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730214836/https://www.forbes.com/sites/toddhixon/2012/11/13/two-weeks-with-a-dumb-phone/ |date=30 July 2017 }}, ''Forbes'', 13 November 2012</ref> Feature phones and basic mobile phones tend to use a proprietary, custom-designed ] and ]. By contrast, smartphones generally use a ] that often shares common traits across devices. | |||
==Infrastructure== | |||
In Japan, cellular phone companies provide immediate notification of ] and other natural disasters to their customers free of charge. In the event of an emergency, disaster response crews can locate trapped or injured people using the signals from their mobile phones; an interactive menu accessible through the phone's Internet browser notifies the company if the user is safe or in distress. | |||
{{main|Cellular network|Wi-Fi}} | |||
] | |||
The critical advantage that modern cellular networks have over predecessor systems is the concept of ] allowing many simultaneous telephone conversations in a given service area. This allows efficient use of the limited ] allocated to mobile services, and lets thousands of subscribers converse at the same time within a given geographic area. | |||
== Mobile phone features == | |||
{{main|Mobile phone features}} | |||
Former systems would cover a service area with one or two powerful ]s with a range of up to tens of kilometers' (miles), using only a few sets of radio channels (frequencies). Once these few channels were in use by customers, no further customers could be served until another user vacated a channel. It would be impractical to give every customer a unique channel since there would not be enough ] allocated to the mobile service. As well, technical limitations such as antenna efficiency and receiver design limit the range of frequencies a customer unit could use. | |||
Invented in 1997, the ] is now 85% of the market. Mobile phones also often have features beyond sending text messages and making voice calls—including Internet browsing, music (]) playback, personal organizers, ], built-in cameras and camcorders, ], games, radio, ] (PTT), ] and ] connectivity, call registers, ability to watch streaming video or download video for later viewing, and serving as a ] for a PC. | |||
A ] mobile phone system gets its name from dividing the service area into many small cells, each with a base station with (for example) a useful range on the order of a kilometer (mile). These systems have dozens or hundreds of possible channels allocated to them. When a subscriber is using a given channel for a telephone connection, that frequency is unavailable for other customers in the local cell and in the adjacent cells. However, cells further away can re-use that channel without interference as the subscriber's handset is too far away to be detected. The transmitter power of each base station is coordinated to efficiently service its own cell, but not to interfere with the cells further away. | |||
In most countries, the person receiving a cellular phone call pays nothing. However, in ] (including ]), ], and the ], one can be charged per minute. In the United States, a few carriers are beginning to offer unlimited received phone calls. For example as of December 2006, Sprint now has 4 plans under "Sprint Free Incoming Plans" section of their website, although the restriction is the receiving phone must be on the Sprint PCS network. | |||
Automation embedded in the customer's handset and in the base stations control all phases of the call, from detecting the presence of a handset in a service area, temporary assignment of a channel to a handset making a call, interface with the land-line side of the network to connect to other subscribers, and collection of billing information for the service. The automation systems can control the "hand off" of a customer handset moving between one cell and another so that a call in progress continues without interruption, changing channels if required. In the earliest mobile phone systems by contrast, all control was done manually; the customer would search for an unoccupied channel and speak to a mobile operator to request connection of a call to a landline number or another mobile. At the termination of the call the mobile operator would manually record the billing information. | |||
== Mobile phone forensics and evidence == | |||
The UK appears to be leading the world when in comes to mobile telephone forensics and evidence. Law enforcement globally, though, relies heavily upon mobile telephone evidence. The concerns over terrorism and the use by terrorist to use technology promoted an enquiry by the UK House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee into the use of evidence from mobile telephone devices, prompting leading mobile telephone forensic specialists to identify forensic techniques available in this area. | |||
Mobile phones communicate with cell towers that are placed to give coverage across a telephone service area, which is divided up into 'cells'. Each cell uses a different set of frequencies from neighboring cells, and will typically be covered by three towers placed at different locations. The cell towers are usually interconnected to each other and the phone network and the internet by wired connections. Due to bandwidth limitations each cell will have a maximum number of cell phones it can handle at once. The cells are therefore sized depending on the expected usage density, and may be much smaller in cities. In that case much lower transmitter powers are used to avoid broadcasting beyond the cell. | |||
== Technology == | |||
] | |||
Mobile phones and the network they operate under vary significantly from provider to provider, and nation to nation. However, all of them communicate through electromagnetic ]s with a cell site base station, the antennas of which are usually mounted on a tower, pole, or building. | |||
In order to handle the high traffic, multiple towers can be set up in the same area (using different frequencies). This can be done permanently or temporarily such as at special events or in disasters. Cell phone companies will bring a truck with equipment to host the abnormally high traffic. | |||
The phones have a low-power ] that transmits voice and data to the nearest cell sites, usually 5 to 8 miles (approximately 8 to 13 kilometres) away. When the cellular phone or data device is turned on, it registers with the ], or switch, with its unique identifiers, and will then be alerted by the mobile switch when there is an incoming telephone call. The handset constantly listens for the strongest signal being received from the surrounding base stations. As the user moves around the network, the mobile device will "]" to various cell sites during calls, or while waiting (idle) between calls it will ] cell sites. | |||
Capacity was further increased when phone companies implemented digital networks. With digital, one frequency can host multiple simultaneous calls. | |||
]s have relatively low-power (often only one or two watts) radio transmitters which broadcast their presence and relay communications between the mobile handsets and the switch. The switch in turn connects the call to another subscriber of the same ] or to the ], which includes the networks of other wireless carriers. | |||
Additionally, short-range ] infrastructure is often used by smartphones as much as possible as it offloads traffic from cell networks on to local area networks. | |||
The dialogue between the handset and the cell site is a stream of digital data that includes digitized audio (except for the first generation analog networks). The technology that achieves this depends on the system which the ] has adopted. Some technologies include ] for analog, and ], ], ], ], ], and ] for digital communications. Each network operator has a unique ] band. | |||
== |
==Hardware== | ||
{{Main|Mobile phone features}} | |||
===Health controversy=== | |||
{{main|Mobile phone radiation and health}} | |||
The common components found on all mobile phones are: | |||
Concern has been raised regarding the possibility of an increase in certain types of rare ] (]) in long-time, heavy users. More recently a pan-European study provided significant evidence of ] damage under certain conditions. Some researchers also report the mobile phone industry has interfered with further research on health risks. So far, however, the ] Task Force on EMF effects on health has no definitive conclusion on the veracity of these allegations. (See also ].) It is generally thought, however, that RF is incapable of producing any more than heating effects, as it is considered ]; in other words, it lacks the energy to disrupt molecular bonds like those that occur in ] ]s.<ref>, Reuters, 31 March 2006</ref> | |||
* A ] (CPU), the processor of phones. The CPU is a ] fabricated on a ] (MOS) ] (IC) chip. | |||
=== Driving controversy === | |||
* A ], providing the power source for the phone functions. A modern handset typically uses a ] (LIB), whereas older handsets used ] (Ni–MH) batteries. | |||
{{main|Mobile phones and driving safety}} | |||
* An input mechanism to allow the user to interact with the phone. These are a ] for feature phones, and ] for most smartphones (typically with ]). | |||
* A ] which echoes the user's typing, and displays text messages, contacts, and more. The display is typically either a ] (LCD) or ] (OLED) display. | |||
* ] for sound. | |||
* ] (SIM) cards and removable user identity module (R-UIM) cards. | |||
* A hardware ] on some phones | |||
Low-end mobile phones are often referred to as ]s and offer basic telephony. Handsets with more advanced computing ability through the use of native software applications are known as smartphones. The first ] phones and many feature phones had NOR flash memory, from which processor instructions could be executed directly in an execute in place architecture and allowed for short boot times. With smartphones, NAND flash memory was adopted as it has larger storage capacities and lower costs, but causes longer boot times because instructions cannot be executed from it directly, and must be copied to RAM memory first before execution.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vaq11vKwo_kC&dq=nand+flash+copy+sram&pg=PA12 | title=Inside NAND Flash Memories | isbn=978-90-481-9431-5 | last1=Micheloni | first1=Rino | last2=Crippa | first2=Luca | last3=Marelli | first3=Alessia | date=27 July 2010 | publisher=Springer }}</ref> | |||
Another controversial but potentially more lethal health concern is the correlation with ]s. Several studies{{fact}} have shown that motorists have a much higher risk of collisions and losing control of the vehicle while talking on the mobile telephone simultaneously with driving, even when using "]" systems. Other studies have shown that using a mobile phone while driving poses the same risk as someone operating a vehicle while ] of alcohol. Four U.S. states and many countries, such as Australia, have now restricted or prohibited the use of mobile phones while driving. In Israel and nearly all European countries, driving whilst using a hand-held mobile phone is illegal. | |||
===Central processing unit=== | |||
===Potential danger during electrical storms=== | |||
Mobile phones have ]s (CPUs), similar to those in computers, but optimised to operate in low power environments. | |||
In 2006, it was reported that mobile phone users suffer much more serious lesions than non-users, in case of being struck by ] during an ]. Cell phones do not, however, present the danger of a land line during an electrical storm; whereas wires can carry a lightning strike to a nearby telephone user, cell phone signals are immune to such danger. | |||
Mobile CPU performance depends not only on the clock rate (generally given in multiples of ])<ref>{{cite web | |||
===Security concerns=== | |||
| title = CPU Frequency | |||
Early mobile phones were limited in their security features. Some problems with these models were "cloning", a variant of ], and "scanning" whereby third parties in the local area could intercept and eavesdrop in on calls. Analogue phones could also be listened to on some radio scanners. | |||
| work = CPU World Glossary | |||
| publisher = CPU World | |||
| date = 25 March 2008 | |||
| url = http://www.cpu-world.com/Glossary/C/CPU_Frequency.html | |||
| access-date =1 January 2010 }}</ref> but also the ] also greatly affects overall performance. Because of these problems, the performance of mobile phone CPUs is often more appropriately given by scores derived from various standardized tests to measure the real effective performance in commonly used applications. | |||
===Display=== | |||
Although more recent digital systems (such as ]) have attempted to address these fundamental issues, security problems continue to persist. Vulnerabilities (such as ]) have been found in many current protocols that continue to allow the possibility of eavesdropping or cloning | |||
{{main|Display device}} | |||
<ref>http://www.isaac.cs.berkeley.edu/isaac/gsm-faq.html</ref>. | |||
One of the main characteristics of phones is the ]. Depending on the device's type and design, the screen fills most or nearly all of the space on a device's front surface. Many smartphone displays have an ] of ], but taller aspect ratios became more common in 2017. | |||
Screen sizes are often measured in diagonal ]es or ]s; feature phones generally have screen sizes below {{convert|3.5|inch|mm|round=5|order=flip}}. Phones with screens larger than {{convert|5.2|inch|mm|round=5|order=flip}} are often called "]s." Smartphones with screens over {{convert|4.5|inch|mm|round=5|order=flip}} in size are commonly difficult to use with only a single hand, since most thumbs cannot reach the entire screen surface; they may need to be shifted around in the hand, held in one hand and manipulated by the other, or used in place with both hands. Due to design advances, some modern smartphones with large screen sizes and "edge-to-edge" designs have compact builds that improve their ergonomics, while the shift to taller aspect ratios have resulted in phones that have larger screen sizes whilst maintaining the ergonomics associated with smaller 16:9 displays.<ref name="phonearena-s7edgenotphablet">{{cite web|title=Don't call it a phablet: the 5.5" Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is narrower than many 5.2" devices|url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Dont-call-it-a-phablet-the-5.5-Samsung-Galaxy-S7-Edge-is-narrower-than-many-5.2-devices_id79482|website=PhoneArena|date=21 March 2016 |access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="verge-phabletpytha">{{cite web|title=We're gonna need Pythagoras' help to compare screen sizes in 2017|url=https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2017/3/30/15120824/screen-aspect-ratio-mathematics-galaxy-s8-lg-g6|website=The Verge|date=30 March 2017|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="verge-s8aspectratio">{{cite web|title=The Samsung Galaxy S8 will change the way we think about display sizes|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/3/30/15121526/samsung-galaxy-s8-vs-google-pixel-iphone-7-screen-size-comparison|website=The Verge|date=30 March 2017|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
It should be noted that on a technical level, CDMA is more secure than GSM and TDMA. This is due to the fact that all calls are separated onto their own channel and encoded with a unique encryption code. | |||
]s are the most common; others are ], ], ], and ] displays. Some displays are integrated with pressure-sensitive digitizers, such as those developed by ] and ],<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ward|first1=J. R.|last2=Phillips|first2=M. J.|date=1987-04-01|title=Digitizer Technology: Performance Characteristics and the Effects on the User Interface|journal=IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications|volume=7|issue=4|pages=31–44|doi=10.1109/MCG.1987.276869|s2cid=16707568|issn=0272-1716}}</ref> and Apple's "]" system. | |||
] using mobile phones is also a concern. | |||
===Sound=== | |||
As mobile phones begin to converge with the Internet, new security concerns will exist. Early forms of mobile viruses, ], adult content and socially engineered scams have begun to target Internet capable mobile phones. Users of mobile phones will be much less tolerant of such malicious activities. | |||
In sound, smartphones and feature phones vary little. Some audio-quality enhancing features, such as ] and ], have appeared and are often available on newer smartphones. Sound quality can remain a problem due to the design of the phone, the quality of the cellular network and compression algorithms used in ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/why-mobile-voice-quality-still-stinksand-how-to-fix-it|title=Why Mobile Voice Quality Still Stinks – and How to Fix It|author=Jeff Hecht|work=]|date=30 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-is-cell-phone-call-quality-so-terrible|title=Why Is Cell Phone Call Quality So Terrible?|author=Elena Malykhina|work=Scientific American}}</ref> Audio quality can be improved using a ] application over ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lifehacker.com/whats-the-best-mobile-voip-app-1579791681|title=What's the Best Mobile VoIP App?|author=Alan Henry|publisher=Gawker Media|work=Lifehacker|date=22 May 2014 }}</ref> Cellphones have small speakers so that the user can use a ] feature and talk to a person on the phone without holding it to their ear. The small speakers can also be used to listen to digital audio files of music or speech or watch videos with an audio component, without holding the phone close to the ear. | |||
===Battery=== | |||
Recently, it has been shown that cell phone microphones can be remotely activated for use as "roving bugs". This has been approved as legal in the U.S. under existing wiretapping laws. This capability is confirmed by the Western Region Security Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce (citing a newsletter from the ]), which says that : | |||
The typical lifespan of a mobile phone battery is approximately two to three years, although this varies based on usage patterns, environmental conditions, and overall care. Most modern mobile phones use ] (Li-ion) batteries, which are designed to endure between 500 and 2,500 charge cycles. The exact number of cycles depends on factors such as charging habits, operating temperature, and battery management systems.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.phonedog.com/2011/08/07/how-to-prolong-your-cell-phone-battery-s-life-span|title=How To Prolong Your Cell Phone Battery's Life Span|last=Taylor|first=Martin|work=Phonedog.com|access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref> | |||
Li-ion batteries gradually degrade over time due to chemical aging, leading to reduced capacity and performance, often noticeable after one or two years of regular use. Unlike older battery types, such as ] (Ni-MH), Li-ion batteries do not need to be fully discharged to maintain their longevity. In fact, they perform best when kept between 30% and 80% of their full charge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Should lithium ion batteries be fully discharged before charging?-battery-knowledge {{!}} Large Power |url=https://www.large.net/news/85u43q0.html |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=www.large.net}}</ref> While practices such as avoiding excessive heat and minimizing overcharging can help preserve battery health, many modern devices include built-in safeguards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a Lithium-ion Battery Protection IC? – Understanding the Role, Functionality, and Importance |url=https://www.ablic.com/en/semicon/products/power-management-ic/lithium-ion-battery-protection-ic/intro/ |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=ABLIC Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref> These safeguards, typically managed by the phone's internal battery management system (BMS), prevent overcharging by cutting off power once the battery reaches full capacity. Additionally, most contemporary chargers and devices are designed to regulate charging to minimize stress on the battery. Therefore, while good charging habits can positively impact battery longevity, most users benefit from these integrated protections, making battery maintenance less of a concern in day-to-day use.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208387|title=Iphone Battery and Performance|website=Apple Support|access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/expert-advice-on-how-to-avoid-destroying-your-phones-battery/|title=Should You Leave Your Smartphone Plugged Into The Charger Overnight? We Asked An Expert|last=Hill|first=Simon|work=Digital Trends|access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref> | |||
''A cellular telephone can be turned into a microphone and transmitter for the purpose of listening to conversations in the vicinity of the phone. This is done by transmitting to the cell phone a maintenance command on the control channel. This command places the cellular telephone in the "diagnostic mode." When this is done, conversations in the immediate area of the telephone can be monitored over the voice channel.'' | |||
Future mobile phone batteries are expected to utilize advanced technologies such as ] (Si/C) batteries and ] batteries, which promise to offer higher energy densities, longer lifespans, and improved safety compared to current lithium-ion batteries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Melodie |date=2020-06-24 |title=Increasing battery capacity: going Si high |url=https://www.mewburn.com/news-insights/increasing-battery-capacity-going-si-high |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.mewburn.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Si/C Composites for Battery Materials |url=https://www.acsmaterial.com/blog-detail/sic-composites-for-battery-materials.html |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.acsmaterial.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=Solid-state batteries are finally making their way out of the lab |url=https://www.freethink.com/hard-tech/future-of-solid-state-batteries |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=Freethink |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
===Claims of Danger at Gas Pumps=== | |||
Since 1999 there have been many claims that cell phones can cause ] that ignite fumes in the air due to the battery, signal, or ringer. These have been proven to be false as the battery is the same kind as a car battery, the signals are too weak to ever start it, and cell phones don't actually have a ringer. Despite this many places have banned cell phone use near gas pumps including places in Canada and Belgium. | |||
===SIM card=== | |||
It has been alleged that the bans are maintained in order to ensure patrons are not distracted while refuelling, which could cause potentially hazardous spills. | |||
{{Main|SIM card|Removable User Identity Module}} | |||
]]] | |||
Mobile phones require a small ] called a Subscriber Identity Module or ], in order to function. The SIM card is approximately the size of a small postage stamp and is usually placed underneath the battery in the rear of the unit. The SIM securely stores the ] and the ] used to identify and authenticate the user of the mobile phone. The SIM card allows users to change phones by simply removing the SIM card from one mobile phone and inserting it into another mobile phone or broadband telephony device, provided that this is not prevented by a ]. The first SIM card was made in 1991 by Munich smart card maker ] for the Finnish wireless network operator ].{{Citation needed|date=May 2013}} | |||
A hybrid mobile phone can hold up to four SIM cards, with a phone having a different ] for each SIM Card. SIM and ] cards may be mixed together to allow both ] and ] networks to be accessed. From 2010 onwards, such phones became popular in emerging markets,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110429/wr_nm/us_handsets | title=Smartphone boom lifts phone market in first quarter | agency=Reuters | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508150638/http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110429/wr_nm/us_handsets|archive-date=8 May 2011|date=29 April 2011|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> and this was attributed to the desire to obtain the lowest calling costs. | |||
There is a mythbusters episode where they test whether a cell phone is dangerous at the pump. It proved not to be dangerous. | |||
When the removal of a SIM card is detected by the operating system, it may deny further operation until a reboot.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Fix 'No SIM Card Detected' Error on Android |url=https://www.maketecheasier.com/fix-no-sim-card-detected-android/ |website=Make Tech Easier |date=20 September 2020}}</ref> | |||
===Claims of danger on aircraft=== | |||
Almost all countries and airlines ban the use of mobile phones on their aircraft due to unproven claims that they can interfere with systems like the radio link to ] and the ]. When ] crashed early in 2000, many countries that had previously been reluctant to introduce this legislation adopted it because of claims it was downed by passenger cell phone use, but the official report blames pilot error and makes no mention of mobile phone use. | |||
==Software== | |||
==Mobile communication studies== | |||
Since 2002 there has been an enormous increase in academic research regarding the social impact of mobile phones. Books include: | |||
===Software platforms=== | |||
* Agar, Jon, ''Constant Touch: A Global History of the Mobile Phone'', 2004 | |||
] | |||
* Glotz, Peter & Bertsch, Stefan, eds. ''Thumb Culture: The Meaning of Mobile Phones for Society'', 2005 | |||
{{main|Mobile operating system}} | |||
* Katz, James E. & Aakhus, Mark, eds. ''Perpetual Contact: Mobile Communication, Private Talk, Public Performance'', 2002 | |||
{{Expand section|date=October 2018}} | |||
* Kavoori, Anandam & Arceneaux, Noah, eds. ''The Cell Phone Reader: Essays in Social Transformation'', 2006 | |||
Feature phones have basic software platforms. Smartphones have advanced software platforms. ] has been the ] worldwide on smartphones since 2011. | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. ''Mobile Communication: Essays on Cognition and Community'', 2003 | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. ''Mobile Learning: Essays on Philosophy, Psychology and Education'', 2003 | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. ''Mobile Democracy: Essays on Society, Self and Politics'', 2003 | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. ''A Sense of Place: The Global and the Local in Mobile Communication'', 2005 | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. '' Mobile Understanding: The Epistemology of Ubiquitous Communication'', 2006 | |||
* ], ''Cellphone: The Story of the World's Most Mobile Medium, and How It Has Transformed Everything!'' 2004 | |||
* ], ''Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution'', 2002 | |||
== |
===Mobile app=== | ||
{{main|Mobile app}} | |||
A mobile app is a computer program designed to run on a mobile device, such as a smartphone. The term "app" is a shortening of the term "software application". | |||
;Messaging | |||
=== Related non-cell-phone systems === | |||
{{see also|SMS|Multimedia Messaging Service{{!}}MMS}} | |||
; ] (portable phone) : Cordless phones are standard telephones with radio handsets. Unlike mobile phones, cordless phones use private base stations that are not shared between subscribers. The base station is connected to a land-line. Increasingly, with ] technologies, namely ], the distinction is blurred. | |||
] | |||
; ] : Advanced professional mobile radio systems can be very similar to cell phone systems. Notably, the ] standard has been used as both a private ] as well as the technology for several large public providers. Similar attempts have even been made to use ], the European digital PMR standard, to implement public mobile networks. | |||
; Radio phone : This is a term which covers radios which could connect into the telephone network. These phones may not be mobile; for example, they may require a ] power supply. Also, they may require the assistance of a human operator to set up a ] phone call. | |||
A common data application on mobile phones is ] (SMS) text messaging. The first SMS message was sent from a computer to a mobile phone in 1992 in the UK while the first person-to-person SMS from phone to phone was sent in Finland in 1993. The first ] service, delivered via SMS, was launched in Finland in 2000,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lynn|first=Natalie|date=2016-03-10|title=The History and Evolution of Mobile Advertising|url=https://gimbal.com/history-evolution-mobile-advertising/|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Gimbal|language=en-US}}</ref> and subsequently many organizations provided "on-demand" and "instant" news services by SMS. ] (MMS) was introduced in March 2002.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bodic|first=Gwenaël Le|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYeHSlp0CMsC&q=2002|title=Mobile Messaging Technologies and Services: SMS, EMS and MMS|date=2005-07-08|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-01451-6|language=en}}</ref> | |||
=== Terms in other countries === | |||
{{see|Mobile phone terms across the world}} | |||
===Application stores=== | |||
== See also == | |||
{{Main|List of mobile app distribution platforms}} | |||
{{wiktionary|cell phone}} | |||
{{wiktionary|mobile phone}} | |||
{{commonscat|Mobile phones}} | |||
The introduction of Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch in July 2008 popularized manufacturer-hosted ] for third-party applications (software and computer programs) focused on a single platform. There are a huge variety of apps, including ]s, music products and business tools. Up until that point, smartphone application distribution depended on ] providing applications for multiple platforms, such as ], ], ], and ]. Following the success of the App Store, other smartphone manufacturers launched application stores, such as Google's Android Market (later renamed to the Google Play Store), RIM's ], or Android-related app stores like ], ], ], ], and ]. In February 2014, 93% of ] were targeting smartphones first for mobile app development.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629101713/http://www.w3.org/blog/2014/02/w3c-interview-vision-mobile-on-the-app-developer-economy-with-matos-kapetanakis-and-dimitris-michalakos/ |date=29 June 2016 }}. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.</ref> | |||
{| | |||
|- valign=top | |||
| width=210 align=left | | |||
* Cell phone generations: ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
* ]: | |||
** ] | |||
** ] (General Packet Radio Service) | |||
** ] | |||
** ] | |||
** ] (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) | |||
==Sales== | |||
* ] | |||
===By manufacturer=== | |||
* ] | |||
{{See also|List of best-selling mobile phones|List of mobile phone brands by country}} | |||
* ] | |||
* ] (Wire and ]): ], ], ], ], ] | |||
* ]. | |||
* ] integration | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] integration | |||
* ] | |||
* ] (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] and ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* Messages: ], ] | |||
* ] | |||
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="font-size: 87%;" | |||
| width=210 align=left | | |||
|- | |||
|+ Market share of top-five worldwide mobile phone vendors, Q2 2022 | |||
|- | |||
!|Rank | |||
!|Manufacturer | |||
!|Strategy<br /> Analytics<br /> report<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |date=2022-08-24 |title=Global Smartphone Market Share: By Quarter |url=https://www.counterpointresearch.com/global-smartphone-share/ |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=Counterpoint Research |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|| 1 || ] || 21% | |||
|- | |||
|| 2 || ] || 16% | |||
|- | |||
|| 3 || ]|| 13% | |||
|- | |||
|| 4 || ] || 10% | |||
|- | |||
|| 5 || ] || 9% | |||
|- | |||
|| || Others || 31% | |||
|- | |||
| colspan=5 |Note: Vendor shipments are<br /> branded shipments and exclude<br /> ] sales for all vendors. | |||
|} | |||
As of 2022, the top five manufacturers worldwide were Samsung (21%), Apple (16%), Xiaomi (13%), Oppo (10%), and Vivo (9%).<ref name="auto1"/> | |||
* ] | |||
* A comparison of ] platforms | |||
** ] | |||
** ] | |||
** ] (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless) | |||
* ] | |||
* ] - mobile weblog | |||
* ] | |||
* ]: ], car ], ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ]: ], ] | |||
* ] (a new type of ], designed to be easily captured by a mobile phone's camera and converted to an internet ] for use by the phone's web browser) | |||
* ] | |||
* ] Subscriber Identity Module | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] (another new form of 2D ] that can be captured by a ] and converted into information | |||
* ] Wireless Application Protocol | |||
* ] - cell phone instant messaging protocol | |||
;History | |||
|} | |||
From 1983 to 1998, ] was market leader in mobile phones. ] was the market leader in mobile phones from 1998 to 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/farewell-nokia-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-mobile-pioneer/|title=Farewell Nokia: The rise and fall of a mobile pioneer|first=Roger|last=Cheng|website=CNET}}</ref> In Q1 2012, ] surpassed Nokia, selling 93.5 million units as against Nokia's 82.7 million units. Samsung has retained its top position since then. | |||
Aside from Motorola, European brands such as Nokia, ] and ] once held large sway over the global mobile phone market, and many new technologies were pioneered in Europe. By 2010, the influence of European companies had significantly decreased due to fierce competition from American and Asian companies, to where most technical innovation had shifted.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/feb/14/mobile-world-congress-phones-networks|title=How the smartphone made Europe look stupid|date=14 February 2010|website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mobilityarena.com/non-chinese-smartphones/|title=Non-Chinese smartphones: These phones are not made in China - MobilityArena.com|first=Yomi Adegboye AKA Mister|last=Mobility|date=5 February 2020|website=mobilityarena.com}}</ref> Apple and Google, both of the United States, also came to dominate mobile phone software.<ref name="auto"/> | |||
==Sources== | |||
<div class="references-small"> | |||
<references /> | |||
</div> | |||
===By mobile phone operator=== | |||
==External links== | |||
{{main|Mobile phone operator}}The world's largest individual mobile operator by number of subscribers is ], which has over 902 million mobile phone subscribers {{as of|2018|June|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.chinamobileltd.com/en/ir/operation_m.php |title = Operation Data |publisher = China Mobile |date = 2017-08-31}}</ref> Over 50 mobile operators have over ten million subscribers each, and over 150 mobile operators had at least one million subscribers by the end of 2009.<ref>Source: wireless intelligence</ref> In 2014, there were more than seven billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide, a number that is expected to keep growing. | |||
<!-- Discuss any additional link on the talk page before adding URLs here. See: WP:EL or http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:External_links --> | |||
{{clear}} | |||
==Use== | |||
* at the ] | |||
{{see also|Smartphone#Use}} | |||
* | |||
* | |||
] | |||
<!-- Discuss any additional link on the talk page before adding URLs here. See: WP:EL or http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:External_links --> | |||
Mobile phones are used for a variety of purposes, such as keeping in touch with family members, for conducting business, and in order to have access to a telephone in the event of an emergency. Some people carry more than one mobile phone for different purposes, such as for business and personal use. Multiple SIM cards may be used to take advantage of the benefits of different calling plans. For example, a particular plan might provide for cheaper local calls, long-distance calls, international calls, or roaming. | |||
The mobile phone has been used in a variety of diverse contexts in society. For example: | |||
] | |||
* A study by ] found that one in ten mobile phone subscribers have a second phone that is often kept secret from other family members. These phones may be used to engage in such activities as extramarital affairs or clandestine business dealings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1602044.stm |title=Millions keep secret mobile |work=BBC News |date=16 October 2001 |access-date=4 November 2009}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
* Some organizations assist victims of domestic violence by providing mobile phones for use in emergencies. These are often refurbished phones.<ref>{{cite web|first=Richard |last=Brooks |url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_helpphones13.3d74734.html |title=Donated cell phones help battered women |publisher=The Press-Enterprise |date=13 August 2007 |access-date=4 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925105500/http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_helpphones13.3d74734.html |archive-date=25 September 2009 }}</ref> | |||
] | |||
* The advent of widespread text-messaging has resulted in the ], the first literary genre to emerge from the cellular age, via ] to a website that collects the novels as a whole.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Goodyear |first=Dana |url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/12/22/081222fa_fact_goodyear |title=Letter from Japan: I ♥ Novels |magazine=The New Yorker |date=7 January 2009 |access-date=29 July 2009}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
* ] also facilitates activism and ]. | |||
] | |||
* The ] reported that mobile phones have spread faster than any other form of technology and can improve the livelihood of the poorest people in developing countries, by providing access to information in places where ]s or the Internet are not available, especially in the ]. Use of mobile phones also spawns a wealth of micro-enterprises, by providing such work as selling airtime on the streets and repairing or refurbishing handsets.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USTRE69D4XA20101014 | work=Reuters | first=Jonathan | last=Lynn | title=Mobile phones help lift poor out of poverty: U.N. study | access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> | |||
* In ] and other African countries, people used to travel from village to village to let friends and relatives know about weddings, births, and other events. This can now be avoided in areas with mobile phone coverage, which are usually more extensive than areas with just land-line penetration. | |||
* The TV industry has recently started using mobile phones to drive live TV viewing through mobile apps, advertising, ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campustvs.com/ |title=4 Ways Smartphones Can Save Live TV |publisher=Tvgenius.net |access-date=4 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514021048/http://www.campustvs.com/ |archive-date=14 May 2012 }}</ref> It is estimated that 86% of Americans use their mobile phone while watching TV. | |||
* In some parts of the world, mobile phone sharing is common. Cell phone sharing is prevalent in urban India, as families and groups of friends often share one or more mobile phones among their members. There are obvious economic benefits, but often familial customs and traditional gender roles play a part.<ref>Donner, Jonathan, and Steenson, Molly Wright. "Beyond the Personal and Private: Modes of Mobile Phone Sharing in Urban India." In ''The Reconstruction of Space and Time: Mobile Communication Practices'', edited by Scott Campbell and Rich Ling, 231–250. Piscataway, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2008.</ref> It is common for a village to have access to only one mobile phone, perhaps owned by a teacher or missionary, which is available to all members of the village for necessary calls.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Hahn | first1 = Hans | last2 = Kibora | first2 = Ludovic | year = 2008 | title = The Domestication of the Mobile Phone: Oral Society and New ICT in Burkina Faso | journal = Journal of Modern African Studies | volume = 46 | pages = 87–109 | doi=10.1017/s0022278x07003084| s2cid = 154804246 }}</ref> | |||
* Smartphones also have the use for individuals who suffer from diabetes. There are apps for patients with diabetes to self monitor their blood sugar, and can sync with flash monitors. The apps have a feature to send automated feedback or possible warnings to other family members or healthcare providers in the case of an emergency. | |||
===Content distribution=== | |||
In 1998, one of the first examples of ] through the mobile phone was the sale of ]s by ] in Finland. Soon afterwards, other media content appeared, such as news, video games, jokes, horoscopes, TV content and advertising. Most early content for mobile phones tended to be copies of ], such as banner advertisements or TV news highlight video clips. Recently, unique content for mobile phones has been emerging, from ringtones and ] to ], video content that has been produced exclusively for mobile phones.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} | |||
===Mobile banking and payment=== | |||
] | |||
{{main|Mobile banking|Mobile payment}} | |||
{{see also|Branchless banking|Contactless payment}} | |||
In many countries, mobile phones are used to provide ] services, which may include the ability to transfer cash payments by secure SMS text message. Kenya's ] mobile banking service, for example, allows customers of the mobile phone operator ] to hold cash balances which are recorded on their SIM cards. Cash can be deposited or withdrawn from M-PESA accounts at Safaricom retail outlets located throughout the country and can be transferred electronically from person to person and used to pay bills to companies. | |||
] has also been successful in South Africa and the ]. A pilot project in ] was launched in 2011 by the ] and an ]n bank, ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/03/01/branchless-banking-start-bali.html |title=Branchless banking to start in Bali |publisher=The Jakarta Post |date=13 April 2012 |access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref> | |||
Mobile payments were first trialled in Finland in 1998 when two Coca-Cola vending machines in ] were enabled to work with SMS payments. Eventually, the idea spread and in 1999, the Philippines launched the country's first commercial mobile payments systems with mobile operators ] and ].{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} | |||
Some mobile phones can make ]s via direct mobile billing schemes, or through ]s if the phone and the ] support ] (NFC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.banktech.com/blog/archives/2007/06/mobile_payments.html |title=Mobile Payments: Look to Korea |author=Feig, Nancy |publisher=banktech.com |date=25 June 2007 |access-date=29 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326155917/http://www.banktech.com/blog/archives/2007/06/mobile_payments.html |archive-date=26 March 2010 }}</ref> Enabling contactless payments through NFC-equipped mobile phones requires the co-operation of manufacturers, network operators, and retail merchants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connectedplanetonline.com/mobile-apps/news/nfc-mobile-phone-explode-1110/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124001632/http://connectedplanetonline.com/mobile-apps/news/nfc-mobile-phone-explode-1110/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2010 |title=NFC mobile phone set to explode |author=Ready, Sarah |publisher=connectedplanetonline.com |date=10 November 2009 |access-date=29 January 2011 }} | |||
</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/mobile/visa-testing-nfc-memory-cards-for-wireless-payments/ |title=VISA Testing NFC Memory Cards for Wireless Payments |author=Tofel, Kevin C. |publisher=gigaom.com |date=20 August 2010 |access-date=21 January 2011 |archive-date=21 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621023021/http://gigaom.com/mobile/visa-testing-nfc-memory-cards-for-wireless-payments/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
===Mobile tracking=== | |||
{{see also|Cellphone surveillance|Mobile phone tracking}} | |||
Mobile phones are commonly used to collect location data. While the phone is turned on, the geographical location of a mobile phone can be determined easily (whether it is being used or not) using a technique known as ] to calculate the differences in time for a signal to travel from the mobile phone to each of several ] near the owner of the phone.<ref name="bbc-phone-locate">{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4738219.stm |title= Tracking a suspect by mobile phone |date= 3 August 2005 |work= BBC News |access-date= 14 March 2009}}</ref><ref name="foxnews-phone-locate">{{cite news|url= https://www.foxnews.com/story/cell-phone-tracking-can-locate-terrorists-but-only-where-its-legal/ |title= Cell Phone Tracking Can Locate Terrorists – But Only Where It's Legal |last= Miller |first= Joshua |date= 14 March 2009 |work= Fox News |access-date= 4 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
The movements of a mobile phone user can be tracked by their service provider and, if desired, by law enforcement agencies and their governments. Both the ] and the handset can be tracked.<ref name="bbc-phone-locate"/> | |||
China has proposed using this technology to track the commuting patterns of Beijing city residents.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2011/03/china_said_it_may_begin.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110624100746/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2011/03/china_said_it_may_begin.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 24 June 2011 |author= Cecilia Kang |title= China plans to track cellphone users, sparking human rights concerns |newspaper= The Washington Post |date= 3 March 2011}}</ref> In the UK and US, law enforcement and intelligence services use mobile phones to perform surveillance operations.<ref name="roving-bugs">{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/FBI-taps-cell-phone-mic-as-eavesdropping-tool/2100-1029_3-6140191.html |title=FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool |last=McCullagh |first=Declan |author2=Anne Broache |date=1 December 2006 |work=CNet News |access-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110182623/http://news.cnet.com/FBI-taps-cell-phone-mic-as-eavesdropping-tool/2100-1029_3-6140191.html |archive-date=10 November 2013 }}</ref> | |||
Hackers have been able to track a phone's location, read messages, and record calls, through obtaining a subscribers phone number.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/18/phone-number-hacker-read-texts-listen-calls-track-you|title=Your phone number is all a hacker needs to read texts, listen to calls and track you|first=Samuel|last=Gibbs|newspaper=The Guardian |date=18 April 2016|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> | |||
===Electronic waste regulation=== | |||
] | |||
{{see also|Mobile phone recycling}} | |||
Studies have shown that around 40–50% of the environmental impact of mobile phones occurs during the manufacture of their printed wiring boards and integrated circuits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.informinc.org/pages/media/the-secret-life-series/the-secret-life-of-cell-phones.html|title=The Secret Life Series – Environmental Impacts of Cell Phones|publisher=Inform, Inc.|access-date=4 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
The average user replaces their mobile phone every 11 to 18 months,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.griffith.edu.au/engineering-information-technology/e-waste-research-group/facts-figures|title=E-waste research group, Facts and figures|publisher=Griffith University|access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> and the discarded phones then contribute to ]. Mobile phone manufacturers within ] are subject to the ], and Australia has introduced a mobile phone recycling scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arp.net.au/envcha.php|title=Mobile Phone Waste and The Environment|publisher=Aussie Recycling Program|access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> | |||
] had an advanced robotic disassembler and sorter called Liam specifically for recycling outdated or broken iPhones.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rujanavech |first1=Charissa |last2=Lessard |first2=Joe |last3=Chandler |first3=Sarah |last4=Shannon |first4=Sean |last5=Dahmus |first5=Jeffrey |last6=Guzzo |first6=Rob |title=Liam – An Innovation Story |url=https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/Liam_white_paper_Sept2016.pdf |publisher=Apple |access-date=10 May 2022 |date=September 2016}}</ref> | |||
===Theft=== | |||
According to the ], one out of three robberies involve the theft of a cellular phone.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} Police data in San Francisco show that half of all robberies in 2012 were thefts of cellular phones.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} An ] on ], called ''Secure our Smartphones'', urged smartphone manufacturers to install ]es in their devices to make them unusable if stolen. The petition is part of a joint effort by New York Attorney General ] and San Francisco District Attorney ] and was directed to the ]s of the major smartphone manufacturers and telecommunication carriers.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016082504/http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/plea-urges-anti-theft-phone-tech/Content?oid=2447711 |date=16 October 2014 }} ''San Francisco Examiner'' 7 June 2013 p. 5</ref> On 10 June 2013, Apple announced that it would install a "]" on its ], due to debut in October 2013.<ref>"Apple to add kill switches to help combat iPhone theft" by Jaxon Van Derbeken ''San Francisco Chronicle'' 11 Junhttps://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=Mobile_phone_kill_switch&action=edit&redlink=1e 2013 p. 1</ref> | |||
All mobile phones have a unique identifier called ]. Anyone can report their phone as lost or stolen with their Telecom Carrier, and the IMEI would be blacklisted with a central registry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imeipro.info/|title=IMEIpro – free IMEI number check service|website=www.imeipro.info|access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> Telecom carriers, depending upon local regulation can or must implement blocking of blacklisted phones in their network. There are, however, a number of ways to circumvent a blacklist. One method is to send the phone to a country where the telecom carriers are not required to implement the blacklisting and sell it there,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/android/combatting-theft-with-stolen-phone-blacklists/|title=How stolen phone blacklists will tamp down on crime, and what to do in the mean time|date=27 November 2012|language=en-US|access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> another involves altering the phone's IMEI number.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unlockphonetool.com/how-to-change-imei-number/|title=How To Change IMEI Number|date=1 July 2015|language=en-US|access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> Even so, mobile phones typically have less value on the second-hand market if the phones original IMEI is blacklisted. | |||
===Conflict minerals=== | |||
{{main|Conflict minerals}} | |||
Demand for metals used in mobile phones and other electronics fuelled the ], which claimed almost 5.5 million lives.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/democraticrepublicofcongo/8792068/Is-your-mobile-phone-helping-fund-war-in-Congo.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/democraticrepublicofcongo/8792068/Is-your-mobile-phone-helping-fund-war-in-Congo.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Is your mobile phone helping fund war in Congo? |date= 27 September 2011 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In a 2012 news story, '']'' reported: "In unsafe mines deep underground in eastern Congo, ] to extract minerals essential for the electronics industry. The profits from the minerals finance the bloodiest conflict since the second world war; the war has lasted nearly 20 years and has recently flared up again. For the last 15 years, the ] has been a major source of natural resources for the mobile phone industry."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/blog/congo-child-labour-mobile-minerals |title= Children of the Congo who risk their lives to supply our mobile phones |date= 7 December 2012 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> The company ] has worked to develop a mobile phone that does not contain ].{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} | |||
==={{anchor|Kosher phone}}Kosher phones=== | |||
Due to concerns by the ] rabbinate in Britain that texting by youths could waste time and lead to "immodest" communication, the rabbinate recommended that phones with text-messaging capability not be used by children; to address this, they gave their official approval to a brand of "Kosher" phones with no texting capabilities. Although these phones are intended to prevent ], some vendors report good sales to adults who prefer the simplicity of the devices; other Orthodox Jews question the need for them.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matthew |last=Brunwasser |url=https://theworld.org/stories/2013/08/15/kosher-phones-britains-orthodox-jews |title=Kosher Phones For Britain's Orthodox Jews |work=Public Radio International |date= January 25, 2012 }}</ref> | |||
In Israel, similar phones to kosher phones with restricted features exist to observe the ]; under Orthodox Judaism, the use of any electrical device is generally prohibited during this time, other than to save lives, or reduce the risk of death or similar needs. Such phones are approved for use by essential workers, such as health, security, and public service workers.<ref name=kosher>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/154153|title=Introducing: A 'Kosher Phone' Permitted on Shabbat|first= Rachel |last= Hirshfeld |date= March 26, 2012 |work= Arutz Sheva}}</ref> | |||
===Restrictions=== | |||
Restrictions on the use of mobile phones are applied in a number of different contexts, often with the goal of health, safety, security or proper functioning of an establishment, or as a matter of etiquette. Such contexts include: | |||
====While driving==== | |||
{{Main|Mobile phones and driving safety|Texting while driving}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
Mobile phone use while driving, including talking on the phone, texting, or operating other phone features, is common but controversial. It is widely considered dangerous due to ]. Being distracted while operating a motor vehicle has been shown to increase the risk of accidents. In September 2010, the US ] (NHTSA) reported that 995 people were killed by ]. In March 2011, a US insurance company, ], announced the results of a study which showed 19% of drivers surveyed accessed the Internet on a smartphone while driving.<ref name=post>{{cite news |title=Quit Googling yourself and drive: About 20% of drivers using Web behind the wheel, study says |work=Los Angeles Times |date=4 March 2011 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/03/honk-if-youre-googling-20-of-drivers-using-web-behind-the-wheel-says-study.html/ }}</ref> Many jurisdictions prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving. In Egypt, Israel, Japan, Portugal, and Singapore, both handheld and hands-free use of a mobile phone (which uses a ]) is banned. In other countries, including the UK and France and in many ], only handheld phone use is banned while hands-free use is permitted. | |||
A 2011 study reported that over 90% of college students surveyed text (initiate, reply or read) while driving.<ref>{{Cite journal|title = The Choice to Text and Drive in Younger Drivers: Behaviour May Shape Attitude|last1 = Atchley|first1 = Paul|date = January 2011|journal = Accident Analysis and Prevention|doi = 10.1016/j.aap.2010.08.003|pmid = 21094307|first2 = Stephanie|last2 = Atwood|last3 = Boulton|first3 = Aaron|volume=43|issue = 1|pages=134–142}}</ref> | |||
The scientific literature on the dangers of driving while sending a text message from a mobile phone, or '']'', is limited. A simulation study at the ] found a sixfold increase in distraction-related accidents when texting.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/NEWS01/707140333&template=printart|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429193451/http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/NEWS01/707140333&template=printart|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-04-29|title=Text messaging not illegal but data clear on its peril|publisher= ]}}</ref> | |||
Due to the increasing complexity of mobile phones, they are often more like mobile computers in their available uses. This has introduced additional difficulties for law enforcement officials when attempting to distinguish one usage from another in drivers using their devices. This is more apparent in countries which ban both handheld and hands-free usage, rather than those which ban handheld use only, as officials cannot easily tell which function of the mobile phone is being used simply by looking at the driver. This can lead to drivers being stopped for using their device illegally for a phone call when, in fact, they were using the device legally, for example, when using the phone's incorporated controls for car stereo, ] or ]. | |||
A 2010 study reviewed the incidence of mobile phone use while ] and its effects on behaviour and safety.<ref>de Waard, D., Schepers, P., Ormel, W. and Brookhuis, K., 2010, ''Mobile phone use while cycling: Incidence and effects on behaviour and safety'', ''Ergonomics'', Vol 53, No. 1, January 2010, pp. 30–42.</ref> In 2013, a national survey in the US reported the number of drivers who reported using their cellphones to access the Internet while driving had risen to nearly one of four.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/12/distracted-driving-accessing-internet/3497721/|title=Drivers still Web surfing while driving, survey finds|website=USA Today |date=Nov 12, 2013 |first=Larry |last=Copeland}}</ref> A study conducted by the University of Vienna examined approaches for reducing inappropriate and problematic use of mobile phones, such as using mobile phones while driving.<ref>{{cite journal|url = http://homepage.univie.ac.at/andreas.hergovich/php/reaching_the_mobile_respondent_soc.sci.comp.rev.pdf |title = Reaching the Mobile Respondent: Determinants of High-Level Mobile Phone Use Among a High-Coverage Group |journal = Social Science Computer Review |volume = 28 |issue = 3 |pages = 336–349 |doi = 10.1177/0894439309353099|year = 2010 |last1 = Burger |first1 = Christoph |last2 = Riemer |first2 = Valentin |last3 = Grafeneder |first3 = Jürgen |last4 = Woisetschläger |first4 = Bianca |last5 = Vidovic |first5 = Dragana |last6 = Hergovich |first6 = Andreas |s2cid = 61640965 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421221207/https://homepage.univie.ac.at/andreas.hergovich/php/reaching_the_mobile_respondent_soc.sci.comp.rev.pdf |archive-date=Apr 21, 2022}}</ref> | |||
Accidents involving a driver being distracted by talking on a mobile phone have begun to be prosecuted as negligence similar to speeding. In the ], from 27 February 2007, motorists who are caught using a hand-held mobile phone while driving will have three penalty points added to their license in addition to the fine of £60.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6287005.stm|title=Drivers face new phone penalties|date=22 January 2007|via=BBC News}}</ref> This increase was introduced to try to stem the increase in drivers ignoring the law.<ref name="BBC2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6382077.stm|title=Careless talk|date=22 February 2007|via=BBC News}}</ref> ] prohibits all mobile phone use while driving, including use of hands-free devices. New Zealand has banned hand-held cell phone use since 1 November 2009. Many states in the United States have banned texting on cell phones while driving. Illinois became the 17th American state to enforce this law.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/06/illinois.texting.ban/index.html | work=CNN | title=Illinois to ban texting while driving | access-date=12 May 2010 | date=6 August 2009}}</ref> {{as of|2010|July|}}, 30 states had banned texting while driving, with Kentucky becoming the most recent addition on 15 July.<ref name="Courier-Journal">{{cite news|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100714/NEWS01/7140399/1008/NEWS01/Texting+while+driving+ban++other+new+Kentucky+laws+take+effect+Thursday |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119183044/http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100714/NEWS01/7140399/1008/NEWS01/Texting+while+driving+ban++other+new+Kentucky+laws+take+effect+Thursday |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2013 |title=Texting while driving ban, other new Kentucky laws take effect today |first=Stephanie |last=Steitzer |newspaper=] |date=14 July 2010 |access-date=15 July 2010}}</ref> | |||
] maintains a list of distracted driving laws in the United States. This database of laws provides a comprehensive view of the provisions of laws that restrict the use of mobile communication devices while driving for all 50 states and the District of Columbia between 1992 when first law was passed, through 1 December 2010. The dataset contains information on 22 dichotomous, continuous or ]s including, for example, activities regulated (e.g., texting versus talking, hands-free versus handheld), targeted populations, and exemptions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publichealthlawresearch.org/product/distracted-driving-laws-map |title=Distracted Driving Laws |publisher=Public Health Law Research |date=15 July 2011 |access-date=27 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
====On aircraft==== | |||
{{Excerpt|Mobile phones on aircraft}} | |||
{{see also|Airplane mode}} | |||
====While walking==== | |||
{{main|Smartphones and pedestrian safety}} | |||
] | |||
In 2010, an estimated 1500 pedestrians were injured in the US while using a cellphone and some jurisdictions have attempted to ban pedestrians from using their cellphones.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nasar|first1=Jack L.|last2=Troyer|first2=Dereck|title=Pedestrian injuries due to mobile phone use in public places|journal=Accident Analysis and Prevention|volume=57|pages=91–95|date=21 March 2013|doi=10.1016/j.aap.2013.03.021|pmid=23644536|s2cid=8743434|url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/40d4/4805cd7aa72e53355f61c07427d8a71ccff9.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731200146/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/40d4/4805cd7aa72e53355f61c07427d8a71ccff9.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 July 2017|access-date=31 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Grabar|first1=Henry|title=The Absurdity of Honolulu's New Law Banning Pedestrians From Looking at Their Cellphones|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2017/07/28/the_absurdity_of_honolulu_s_new_law_banning_pedestrians_from_looking_at.html|access-date=31 July 2017|work=]|date=28 July 2017}}</ref> Other countries, such as China and the Netherlands, have introduced special lanes for smartphone users to help direct and manage them.<ref name=G14>{{citation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/sep/15/china-mobile-phone-lane-distracted-walking-pedestrians |title=Chinese city opens 'phone lane' for texting pedestrians |newspaper=The Guardian |author=Leo Benedictus |date=15 September 2014}}</ref><ref name=DT15>{{citation |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/11674215/Antwerp-introduces-text-walking-lanes-for-pedestrians-using-mobile-phones.html |author=David Chazan |location=Paris |date=14 Jun 2015 |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |title=Antwerp introduces 'text walking lanes' for pedestrians using mobile phones}}</ref> | |||
====In prisons==== | |||
{{excerpt|Mobile phones in prison}} | |||
==== In hospitals ==== | |||
As of 2007, some hospitals had banned mobile devices due to a ] that their use would create significant ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mikkelson |first=Barbara |date=July 23, 2003 |title=Hospital Cell Phone Death |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sick-call/ |access-date=June 16, 2024 |website=]}}</ref><ref>Rachel C. Vreeman, Aaron E. Carroll, "Medical Myths", '']'' (now called ''The BMJ'') '''335''':1288 (December 20, 2007), {{doi|10.1136/bmj.39420.420370.25}}</ref> | |||
====Health effects==== | |||
{{Main|Mobile phone radiation and health}} | |||
{{See also|Nomophobia|Mobile phone overuse}} | |||
], the amount of time using a device with a screen, has become an issue for mobile phones since the adaptation of smartphones.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screen+time |title=Definition of SCREEN TIME |website=www.merriam-webster.com |access-date=2019-11-09}}</ref> Research is being conducted to show the correlation between screen time and the mental and physical harm in child development. <ref name="Stiglic e023191">{{cite journal |last1=Stiglic |first1=Neza |last2=Viner |first2=Russell M |title=Effects of screentime on the health and well-being of children and adolescents: a systematic review of reviews |journal=BMJ Open |date=3 January 2019 |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=e023191 |doi=10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023191 |pmid=30606703 |pmc=6326346}}</ref> To prevent harm, some parents and even governments have placed restrictions on its usage.<ref name=":5">{{Cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3682621/this-country-just-made-it-illegal-to-give-kids-too-much-screen-time/ |title=This Place Just Made it Illegal to Give Kids Too Much Screen Time |magazine=Time |access-date=2019-11-08}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite journal |last1=Radesky |first1=Jenny |last2=Christakis |first2=Dimitri |date=2016 |title=Media and Young Minds |url=https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/5/e20162591 |journal=Pediatrics |volume=138 |issue=5 |pages=e20162591 |doi=10.1542/peds.2016-2591 |pmid=27940793 |doi-access=free}}</ref> | |||
There have been rumors that mobile phone use can cause cancer, but this is a myth.<ref name=cruk>{{cite web |publisher=] |date=8 February 2022 |title=Do mobile phones, 4G or 5G cause cancer? |url=https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/cancer-myths/do-mobile-phones-cause-cancer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Karipidis |first1=Ken |last2=Baaken |first2=Dan |last3=Loney |first3=Tom |last4=Blettner |first4=Maria |last5=Brzozek |first5=Chris |last6=Elwood |first6=Mark |last7=Narh |first7=Clement |last8=Orsini |first8=Nicola |last9=Röösli |first9=Martin |last10=Paulo |first10=Marilia Silva |last11=Lagorio |first11=Susanna |date=2024-08-30 |title=The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A systematic review of human observational studies – Part I: Most researched outcomes |journal=Environment International |volume=191 |pages=108983 |doi=10.1016/j.envint.2024.108983 |issn=0160-4120|doi-access=free |pmid=39241333 |bibcode=2024EnInt.19108983K |hdl=10362/172700 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> | |||
While there are rumors of mobile phones causing cancer, there was a study conducted by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that stated the there could be an increase risk of brain tumors with the use of smartphones, this is not confirmed. They also stated that with the lack of data for the research and the usage periods of 15 years will warrant further research for smartphones and the cause of brain tumors. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Naeem |first=Zahid |date=October 2014 |title=Health risks associated with mobile phones use |journal=International Journal of Health Sciences |volume=8 |issue=4 |pages=V-VI |pmid=25780365 |pmc=4350886 }}</ref> | |||
====Educational impact==== | |||
{{see also|Mobile phone use in schools}} | |||
A study by the ] found that banning mobile phones in schools could increase pupils' academic performance, providing benefits equal to one extra week of schooling per year.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Social media 'more stressful than exams'|last=Davis|first=Anna|date=18 May 2015|work=]|page=13}}</ref> | |||
== Culture and popularity == | |||
{{See also|SMS language|Xelibri}} | |||
Mobile phones are considered an important human invention as it has been one of the most widely used and sold pieces of consumer technology.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> They have also become culturally symbolic. In ] for example, mobile phones are often decorated with charms. They have also become fashion symbols at times.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-10-14 |title=Cell phone users choosing fashion over function |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15255577 |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> The ] and ] are two examples of devices that were popular for being fashionable while not necessarily focusing on the original purpose of mobile phones, i.e. a device to provide mobile telephony.<ref>{{Cite news |editor-last=Pell |editor-first=Alex |date=2023-07-18 |title=Test Bench: Fashion phones |newspaper=] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/test-bench-fashion-phones-xsjfvc2kshd |access-date=2023-07-18 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> | |||
Some have also suggested that mobile phones or smartphones are a ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lasco |first=Gideon |date=2015-10-22 |title=The smartphone as status symbol |url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/89605/the-smartphone-as-status-symbol |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref> For example a research paper suggested that owning specifically an ] was seen to be a status symbol.<ref>{{Cite news | newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |title=iPhone, iPad are status symbols: Research | date=July 9, 2018 |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/mobiles-and-tabs/090718/iphone-ipad-are-status-symbols-research.html}}</ref> | |||
], which are performed on mobile phones, has also led to the creation of ']'. It also led to the growing popularity of ]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strat-Comm |first=Sailient |date=2018-01-06 |title=The evolution of emoji into culture |url=https://medium.com/@sailientstrat/the-evolution-of-emoji-into-culture-2298f407cd35 |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
{{Portal|Telephones|Telecommunication|Internet}} | |||
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== Notes == | |||
{{Notelist}} | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
==Further reading== | |||
<!-- alphabetical order please --> | |||
{{Refbegin|30em}} | |||
* Agar, Jon, ''Constant Touch: A Global History of the Mobile Phone'', 2004 {{ISBN|1-84046-541-7}} | |||
* {{cite journal |last=Fessenden |first=R. A. |year=1908 |title=Wireless Telephony |publisher=The Institution |journal=Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution |pages=–196 |url=https://archive.org/details/WirelessTelephonyFessenden |access-date=7 August 2009 }} | |||
* Glotz, Peter & Bertsch, Stefan, eds. ''Thumb Culture: The Meaning of Mobile Phones for Society'', 2005 | |||
* ], ''Global Mobile Media'' (New York: Routledge, 2011), p. 176. {{ISBN|978-0-415-46918-0}} | |||
* {{cite journal | last1 = Jain | first1 = S. Lochlann | year = 2002 | title = Urban Errands: The Means of Mobility | url = http://joc.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/2/3/385 | journal = Journal of Consumer Culture | volume = 2 | pages = 385–404 | doi = 10.1177/146954050200200305 | s2cid = 145577892 }} | |||
* Katz, James E. & Aakhus, Mark, eds. ''Perpetual Contact: Mobile Communication, Private Talk, Public Performance'', 2002 | |||
* Kavoori, Anandam & Arceneaux, Noah, eds. ''The Cell Phone Reader: Essays in Social Transformation'', 2006 | |||
* Kennedy, Pagan. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104211818/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/magazine/who-made-that-cellphone.html |date=4 November 2017 }}, '']'', 15 March 2013, p. MM19 | |||
* Kopomaa, Timo. ''The City in Your Pocket'', Gaudeamus 2000 | |||
* ], ''Cellphone: The Story of the World's Most Mobile Medium, and How It Has Transformed Everything!'', 2004 {{ISBN|1-4039-6041-0}} | |||
* Ling, Rich, ''The Mobile Connection: the Cell Phone's Impact on Society'', 2004 {{ISBN|1-55860-936-9}} | |||
* Ling, Rich and Pedersen, Per, eds. ''Mobile Communications: Re-negotiation of the Social Sphere'', 2005 {{ISBN|1-85233-931-4}} | |||
* | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. ''Mobile Communication: Essays on Cognition and Community'', 2003 | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. ''Mobile Learning: Essays on Philosophy, Psychology and Education'', 2003 | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. ''Mobile Democracy: Essays on Society, Self and Politics'', 2003 | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. ''A Sense of Place: The Global and the Local in Mobile Communication'', 2005 | |||
* Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. '' Mobile Understanding: The Epistemology of Ubiquitous Communication'', 2006 | |||
* ], , 2001 | |||
* ], ''Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution'', 2002 {{ISBN|0-7382-0861-2}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Singh |first=Rohit |title=Mobile phones for development and profit: a win-win scenario |publisher=Overseas Development Institute |date=April 2009 |page=2 |url=http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/odi-publications/opinions/128-mobile-phones-business-development-private-sector.pdf |access-date=5 April 2009 |archive-date=16 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416112051/http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/odi-publications/opinions/128-mobile-phones-business-development-private-sector.pdf |url-status=dead }} | |||
{{Refend}} | |||
==External links== | |||
{{Wikivoyage|Mobile telephones}} | |||
{{Wiktionary}} | |||
{{Commons category|Mobile phones}} | |||
* {{HowStuffWorks|cell-phone|"How Cell Phones Work"}} | |||
* , 15 photos with captions from ''Time'' magazine | |||
* – a video documentary by the ] | |||
{{ |
{{Mobile phones}} | ||
{{Mobile telecommunications standards}} | |||
{{Link FA|ta}} | |||
{{Telephony}} | |||
{{Telecommunications}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 02:31, 5 January 2025
Portable device to make telephone calls using a radio link For the modern mobile phone, see Smartphone. "Cell Phone" and "Handphone" redirect here. For the films, see Cell Phone (film) and Handphone (film).
A mobile phone, or cell phone, is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones (landline phones). This radio frequency link connects to the switching systems of a mobile phone operator, providing access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Modern mobile telephony relies on a cellular network architecture, which is why mobile phones are often referred to as 'cell phones' in North America.
Beyond traditional voice communication, digital mobile phones have evolved to support a wide range of additional services. These include text messaging, multimedia messaging, email, and internet access (via LTE, 5G NR or Wi-Fi), as well as short-range wireless technologies like Bluetooth, infrared, and ultra-wideband (UWB).
Mobile phones also support a variety of multimedia capabilities, such as digital photography, video recording, and gaming. In addition, they enable multimedia playback and streaming, including video content, as well as radio and television streaming. Furthermore, mobile phones offer satellite-based services, such as navigation and messaging, as well as business applications and payment solutions (via near-field communication (NFC)).
Mobile phones offering only basic features are often referred to as feature phones (slang: "dumbphones"), while those with advanced computing power are known as smartphones.
The first handheld mobile phone was demonstrated by Martin Cooper of Motorola in New York City on 3 April 1973, using a handset weighing c. 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs). In 1979, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) launched the world's first cellular network in Japan. In 1983, the DynaTAC 8000x was the first commercially available handheld mobile phone. From 1983 to 2014, worldwide mobile phone subscriptions grew to over seven billion; enough to provide one for every person on Earth. In the first quarter of 2016, the top smartphone developers worldwide were Samsung, Apple and Huawei; smartphone sales represented 78 percent of total mobile phone sales. For feature phones as of 2016, the top-selling brands were Samsung, Nokia and Alcatel.
Mobile phones are considered an important human invention as they have been one of the most widely used and sold pieces of consumer technology. The growth in popularity has been rapid in some places, for example, in the UK, the total number of mobile phones overtook the number of houses in 1999. Today, mobile phones are globally ubiquitous, and in almost half the world's countries, over 90% of the population owns at least one.
History
Main article: History of mobile phonesA handheld mobile radio telephone service was envisioned in the early stages of radio engineering. In 1917, Finnish inventor Eric Tigerstedt filed a patent for a "pocket-size folding telephone with a very thin carbon microphone". Early predecessors of cellular phones included analog radio communications from ships and trains. The race to create truly portable telephone devices began after World War II, with developments taking place in many countries. The advances in mobile telephony have been traced in successive "generations", starting with the early zeroth-generation (0G) services, such as Bell System's Mobile Telephone Service and its successor, the Improved Mobile Telephone Service. These 0G systems were not cellular, supported a few simultaneous calls, and were very expensive.
The first handheld cellular mobile phone was demonstrated by John F. Mitchell and Martin Cooper of Motorola in 1973, using a handset weighing 2 kilograms (4.4 lb). The first commercial automated cellular network (1G) analog was launched in Japan by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone in 1979. This was followed in 1981 by the simultaneous launch of the Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) system in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Several other countries then followed in the early to mid-1980s. These first-generation (1G) systems could support far more simultaneous calls but still used analog cellular technology. In 1983, the DynaTAC 8000x was the first commercially available handheld mobile phone.
In 1991, the second-generation (2G) digital cellular technology was launched in Finland by Radiolinja on the GSM standard. This sparked competition in the sector as the new operators challenged the incumbent 1G network operators. The GSM standard is a European initiative expressed at the CEPT ("Conférence Européenne des Postes et Telecommunications", European Postal and Telecommunications conference). The Franco-German R&D cooperation demonstrated the technical feasibility, and in 1987, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between 13 European countries that agreed to launch a commercial service by 1991. The first version of the GSM standard had 6,000 pages. The IEEE and RSE awarded Thomas Haug and Philippe Dupuis the 2018 James Clerk Maxwell medal for their contributions to the first digital mobile telephone standard. In 2018, the GSM was used by over 5 billion people in over 220 countries. The GSM (2G) has evolved into 3G, 4G and 5G. The standardization body for GSM started at the CEPT Working Group GSM (Group Special Mobile) in 1982 under the umbrella of CEPT. In 1988, ETSI was established, and all CEPT standardization activities were transferred to ETSI. Working Group GSM became Technical Committee GSM. In 1991, it became Technical Committee SMG (Special Mobile Group) when ETSI tasked the committee with UMTS (3G). In addition to transmitting voice over digital signals, the 2G network introduced data services for mobile, starting with SMS text messages, then expanding to Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), and mobile internet with a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 384 kbit/s (48 kB/s).
In 2001, the third-generation (3G) was launched in Japan by NTT DoCoMo on the WCDMA standard. This was followed by 3.5G or 3G+ enhancements based on the high-speed packet access (HSPA) family, allowing UMTS networks to have higher data transfer speeds and capacity. 3G is able to provide mobile broadband access of several Mbit/s to smartphones and mobile modems in laptop computers. This ensures it can be applied to mobile Internet access, VoIP, video calls, and sending large e-mail messages, as well as watching videos, typically in standard-definition quality.
By 2009, it had become clear that, at some point, 3G networks would be overwhelmed by the growth of bandwidth-intensive applications, such as streaming media. Consequently, the industry began looking to data-optimized fourth-generation (4G) technologies, with the promise of speed improvements up to tenfold over existing 3G technologies. The first publicly available LTE service was launched in Scandinavia by TeliaSonera in 2009. In the 2010s, 4G technology has found diverse applications across various sectors, showcasing its versatility in delivering high-speed wireless communication, such as mobile broadband, the internet of things (IoT), fixed wireless access, and multimedia streaming (including music, video, radio, and television).
Deployment of fifth-generation (5G) cellular networks commenced worldwide in 2019. The term "5G" was originally used in research papers and projects to denote the next major phase in mobile telecommunication standards beyond the 4G/IMT-Advanced standards. The 3GPP defines 5G as any system that adheres to the 5G NR (5G New Radio) standard. 5G can be implemented in low-band, mid-band or high-band millimeter-wave, with download speeds that can achieve gigabit-per-second (Gbit/s) range, aiming for a network latency of 1 ms. This near-real-time responsiveness and improved overall data performance are crucial for applications like online gaming, augmented and virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and critical communication services.
Types
Smartphone
Main article: SmartphoneSmartphones are defined by their advanced computing capabilities, which include internet connectivity and access to a wide range of applications. The International Telecommunication Union measures those with Internet connection, which it calls Active Mobile-Broadband subscriptions (which includes tablets, etc.). In developed countries, smartphones have largely replaced earlier mobile technologies, while in developing regions, they account for around 50% of all mobile phone usage.
Feature phone
Main article: Feature phoneFeature phone is a term typically used as a retronym to describe mobile phones which are limited in capabilities in contrast to a modern smartphone. Feature phones typically provide voice calling and text messaging functionality, in addition to basic multimedia and Internet capabilities, and other services offered by the user's wireless service provider. A feature phone has additional functions over and above a basic mobile phone, which is only capable of voice calling and text messaging. Feature phones and basic mobile phones tend to use a proprietary, custom-designed software and user interface. By contrast, smartphones generally use a mobile operating system that often shares common traits across devices.
Infrastructure
Main articles: Cellular network and Wi-FiThe critical advantage that modern cellular networks have over predecessor systems is the concept of frequency reuse allowing many simultaneous telephone conversations in a given service area. This allows efficient use of the limited radio spectrum allocated to mobile services, and lets thousands of subscribers converse at the same time within a given geographic area.
Former systems would cover a service area with one or two powerful base stations with a range of up to tens of kilometers' (miles), using only a few sets of radio channels (frequencies). Once these few channels were in use by customers, no further customers could be served until another user vacated a channel. It would be impractical to give every customer a unique channel since there would not be enough bandwidth allocated to the mobile service. As well, technical limitations such as antenna efficiency and receiver design limit the range of frequencies a customer unit could use.
A cellular network mobile phone system gets its name from dividing the service area into many small cells, each with a base station with (for example) a useful range on the order of a kilometer (mile). These systems have dozens or hundreds of possible channels allocated to them. When a subscriber is using a given channel for a telephone connection, that frequency is unavailable for other customers in the local cell and in the adjacent cells. However, cells further away can re-use that channel without interference as the subscriber's handset is too far away to be detected. The transmitter power of each base station is coordinated to efficiently service its own cell, but not to interfere with the cells further away.
Automation embedded in the customer's handset and in the base stations control all phases of the call, from detecting the presence of a handset in a service area, temporary assignment of a channel to a handset making a call, interface with the land-line side of the network to connect to other subscribers, and collection of billing information for the service. The automation systems can control the "hand off" of a customer handset moving between one cell and another so that a call in progress continues without interruption, changing channels if required. In the earliest mobile phone systems by contrast, all control was done manually; the customer would search for an unoccupied channel and speak to a mobile operator to request connection of a call to a landline number or another mobile. At the termination of the call the mobile operator would manually record the billing information.
Mobile phones communicate with cell towers that are placed to give coverage across a telephone service area, which is divided up into 'cells'. Each cell uses a different set of frequencies from neighboring cells, and will typically be covered by three towers placed at different locations. The cell towers are usually interconnected to each other and the phone network and the internet by wired connections. Due to bandwidth limitations each cell will have a maximum number of cell phones it can handle at once. The cells are therefore sized depending on the expected usage density, and may be much smaller in cities. In that case much lower transmitter powers are used to avoid broadcasting beyond the cell.
In order to handle the high traffic, multiple towers can be set up in the same area (using different frequencies). This can be done permanently or temporarily such as at special events or in disasters. Cell phone companies will bring a truck with equipment to host the abnormally high traffic.
Capacity was further increased when phone companies implemented digital networks. With digital, one frequency can host multiple simultaneous calls.
Additionally, short-range Wi-Fi infrastructure is often used by smartphones as much as possible as it offloads traffic from cell networks on to local area networks.
Hardware
Main article: Mobile phone featuresThe common components found on all mobile phones are:
- A central processing unit (CPU), the processor of phones. The CPU is a microprocessor fabricated on a metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) integrated circuit (IC) chip.
- A battery, providing the power source for the phone functions. A modern handset typically uses a lithium-ion battery (LIB), whereas older handsets used nickel–metal hydride (Ni–MH) batteries.
- An input mechanism to allow the user to interact with the phone. These are a keypad for feature phones, and touch screens for most smartphones (typically with capacitive sensing).
- A display which echoes the user's typing, and displays text messages, contacts, and more. The display is typically either a liquid-crystal display (LCD) or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.
- Speakers for sound.
- Subscriber identity module (SIM) cards and removable user identity module (R-UIM) cards.
- A hardware notification LED on some phones
Low-end mobile phones are often referred to as feature phones and offer basic telephony. Handsets with more advanced computing ability through the use of native software applications are known as smartphones. The first GSM phones and many feature phones had NOR flash memory, from which processor instructions could be executed directly in an execute in place architecture and allowed for short boot times. With smartphones, NAND flash memory was adopted as it has larger storage capacities and lower costs, but causes longer boot times because instructions cannot be executed from it directly, and must be copied to RAM memory first before execution.
Central processing unit
Mobile phones have central processing units (CPUs), similar to those in computers, but optimised to operate in low power environments.
Mobile CPU performance depends not only on the clock rate (generally given in multiples of hertz) but also the memory hierarchy also greatly affects overall performance. Because of these problems, the performance of mobile phone CPUs is often more appropriately given by scores derived from various standardized tests to measure the real effective performance in commonly used applications.
Display
Main article: Display deviceOne of the main characteristics of phones is the screen. Depending on the device's type and design, the screen fills most or nearly all of the space on a device's front surface. Many smartphone displays have an aspect ratio of 16:9, but taller aspect ratios became more common in 2017.
Screen sizes are often measured in diagonal inches or millimeters; feature phones generally have screen sizes below 90 millimetres (3.5 in). Phones with screens larger than 130 millimetres (5.2 in) are often called "phablets." Smartphones with screens over 115 millimetres (4.5 in) in size are commonly difficult to use with only a single hand, since most thumbs cannot reach the entire screen surface; they may need to be shifted around in the hand, held in one hand and manipulated by the other, or used in place with both hands. Due to design advances, some modern smartphones with large screen sizes and "edge-to-edge" designs have compact builds that improve their ergonomics, while the shift to taller aspect ratios have resulted in phones that have larger screen sizes whilst maintaining the ergonomics associated with smaller 16:9 displays.
Liquid-crystal displays are the most common; others are IPS, LED, OLED, and AMOLED displays. Some displays are integrated with pressure-sensitive digitizers, such as those developed by Wacom and Samsung, and Apple's "3D Touch" system.
Sound
In sound, smartphones and feature phones vary little. Some audio-quality enhancing features, such as Voice over LTE and HD Voice, have appeared and are often available on newer smartphones. Sound quality can remain a problem due to the design of the phone, the quality of the cellular network and compression algorithms used in long-distance calls. Audio quality can be improved using a VoIP application over WiFi. Cellphones have small speakers so that the user can use a speakerphone feature and talk to a person on the phone without holding it to their ear. The small speakers can also be used to listen to digital audio files of music or speech or watch videos with an audio component, without holding the phone close to the ear.
Battery
The typical lifespan of a mobile phone battery is approximately two to three years, although this varies based on usage patterns, environmental conditions, and overall care. Most modern mobile phones use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which are designed to endure between 500 and 2,500 charge cycles. The exact number of cycles depends on factors such as charging habits, operating temperature, and battery management systems.
Li-ion batteries gradually degrade over time due to chemical aging, leading to reduced capacity and performance, often noticeable after one or two years of regular use. Unlike older battery types, such as nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH), Li-ion batteries do not need to be fully discharged to maintain their longevity. In fact, they perform best when kept between 30% and 80% of their full charge. While practices such as avoiding excessive heat and minimizing overcharging can help preserve battery health, many modern devices include built-in safeguards. These safeguards, typically managed by the phone's internal battery management system (BMS), prevent overcharging by cutting off power once the battery reaches full capacity. Additionally, most contemporary chargers and devices are designed to regulate charging to minimize stress on the battery. Therefore, while good charging habits can positively impact battery longevity, most users benefit from these integrated protections, making battery maintenance less of a concern in day-to-day use.
Future mobile phone batteries are expected to utilize advanced technologies such as silicon-carbon (Si/C) batteries and solid-state batteries, which promise to offer higher energy densities, longer lifespans, and improved safety compared to current lithium-ion batteries.
SIM card
Main articles: SIM card and Removable User Identity ModuleMobile phones require a small microchip called a Subscriber Identity Module or SIM card, in order to function. The SIM card is approximately the size of a small postage stamp and is usually placed underneath the battery in the rear of the unit. The SIM securely stores the service-subscriber key (IMSI) and the Ki used to identify and authenticate the user of the mobile phone. The SIM card allows users to change phones by simply removing the SIM card from one mobile phone and inserting it into another mobile phone or broadband telephony device, provided that this is not prevented by a SIM lock. The first SIM card was made in 1991 by Munich smart card maker Giesecke & Devrient for the Finnish wireless network operator Radiolinja.
A hybrid mobile phone can hold up to four SIM cards, with a phone having a different device identifier for each SIM Card. SIM and R-UIM cards may be mixed together to allow both GSM and CDMA networks to be accessed. From 2010 onwards, such phones became popular in emerging markets, and this was attributed to the desire to obtain the lowest calling costs.
When the removal of a SIM card is detected by the operating system, it may deny further operation until a reboot.
Software
Software platforms
Main article: Mobile operating systemThis section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (October 2018) |
Feature phones have basic software platforms. Smartphones have advanced software platforms. Android OS has been the best-selling OS worldwide on smartphones since 2011.
Mobile app
Main article: Mobile appA mobile app is a computer program designed to run on a mobile device, such as a smartphone. The term "app" is a shortening of the term "software application".
- Messaging
A common data application on mobile phones is Short Message Service (SMS) text messaging. The first SMS message was sent from a computer to a mobile phone in 1992 in the UK while the first person-to-person SMS from phone to phone was sent in Finland in 1993. The first mobile news service, delivered via SMS, was launched in Finland in 2000, and subsequently many organizations provided "on-demand" and "instant" news services by SMS. Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) was introduced in March 2002.
Application stores
Main article: List of mobile app distribution platformsThe introduction of Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch in July 2008 popularized manufacturer-hosted online distribution for third-party applications (software and computer programs) focused on a single platform. There are a huge variety of apps, including video games, music products and business tools. Up until that point, smartphone application distribution depended on third-party sources providing applications for multiple platforms, such as GetJar, Handango, Handmark, and PocketGear. Following the success of the App Store, other smartphone manufacturers launched application stores, such as Google's Android Market (later renamed to the Google Play Store), RIM's BlackBerry App World, or Android-related app stores like Aptoide, Cafe Bazaar, F-Droid, GetJar, and Opera Mobile Store. In February 2014, 93% of mobile developers were targeting smartphones first for mobile app development.
Sales
By manufacturer
See also: List of best-selling mobile phones and List of mobile phone brands by countryRank | Manufacturer | Strategy Analytics report | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Samsung | 21% | ||
2 | Apple | 16% | ||
3 | Xiaomi | 13% | ||
4 | Oppo | 10% | ||
5 | Vivo | 9% | ||
Others | 31% | |||
Note: Vendor shipments are branded shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors. |
As of 2022, the top five manufacturers worldwide were Samsung (21%), Apple (16%), Xiaomi (13%), Oppo (10%), and Vivo (9%).
- History
From 1983 to 1998, Motorola was market leader in mobile phones. Nokia was the market leader in mobile phones from 1998 to 2012. In Q1 2012, Samsung surpassed Nokia, selling 93.5 million units as against Nokia's 82.7 million units. Samsung has retained its top position since then.
Aside from Motorola, European brands such as Nokia, Siemens and Ericsson once held large sway over the global mobile phone market, and many new technologies were pioneered in Europe. By 2010, the influence of European companies had significantly decreased due to fierce competition from American and Asian companies, to where most technical innovation had shifted. Apple and Google, both of the United States, also came to dominate mobile phone software.
By mobile phone operator
Main article: Mobile phone operatorThe world's largest individual mobile operator by number of subscribers is China Mobile, which has over 902 million mobile phone subscribers as of June 2018. Over 50 mobile operators have over ten million subscribers each, and over 150 mobile operators had at least one million subscribers by the end of 2009. In 2014, there were more than seven billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide, a number that is expected to keep growing.
Use
See also: Smartphone § UseMobile phones are used for a variety of purposes, such as keeping in touch with family members, for conducting business, and in order to have access to a telephone in the event of an emergency. Some people carry more than one mobile phone for different purposes, such as for business and personal use. Multiple SIM cards may be used to take advantage of the benefits of different calling plans. For example, a particular plan might provide for cheaper local calls, long-distance calls, international calls, or roaming.
The mobile phone has been used in a variety of diverse contexts in society. For example:
- A study by Motorola found that one in ten mobile phone subscribers have a second phone that is often kept secret from other family members. These phones may be used to engage in such activities as extramarital affairs or clandestine business dealings.
- Some organizations assist victims of domestic violence by providing mobile phones for use in emergencies. These are often refurbished phones.
- The advent of widespread text-messaging has resulted in the cell phone novel, the first literary genre to emerge from the cellular age, via text messaging to a website that collects the novels as a whole.
- Mobile telephony also facilitates activism and citizen journalism.
- The United Nations reported that mobile phones have spread faster than any other form of technology and can improve the livelihood of the poorest people in developing countries, by providing access to information in places where landlines or the Internet are not available, especially in the least developed countries. Use of mobile phones also spawns a wealth of micro-enterprises, by providing such work as selling airtime on the streets and repairing or refurbishing handsets.
- In Mali and other African countries, people used to travel from village to village to let friends and relatives know about weddings, births, and other events. This can now be avoided in areas with mobile phone coverage, which are usually more extensive than areas with just land-line penetration.
- The TV industry has recently started using mobile phones to drive live TV viewing through mobile apps, advertising, social TV, and mobile TV. It is estimated that 86% of Americans use their mobile phone while watching TV.
- In some parts of the world, mobile phone sharing is common. Cell phone sharing is prevalent in urban India, as families and groups of friends often share one or more mobile phones among their members. There are obvious economic benefits, but often familial customs and traditional gender roles play a part. It is common for a village to have access to only one mobile phone, perhaps owned by a teacher or missionary, which is available to all members of the village for necessary calls.
- Smartphones also have the use for individuals who suffer from diabetes. There are apps for patients with diabetes to self monitor their blood sugar, and can sync with flash monitors. The apps have a feature to send automated feedback or possible warnings to other family members or healthcare providers in the case of an emergency.
Content distribution
In 1998, one of the first examples of distributing and selling media content through the mobile phone was the sale of ringtones by Radiolinja in Finland. Soon afterwards, other media content appeared, such as news, video games, jokes, horoscopes, TV content and advertising. Most early content for mobile phones tended to be copies of legacy media, such as banner advertisements or TV news highlight video clips. Recently, unique content for mobile phones has been emerging, from ringtones and ringback tones to mobisodes, video content that has been produced exclusively for mobile phones.
Mobile banking and payment
Main articles: Mobile banking and Mobile payment See also: Branchless banking and Contactless paymentIn many countries, mobile phones are used to provide mobile banking services, which may include the ability to transfer cash payments by secure SMS text message. Kenya's M-PESA mobile banking service, for example, allows customers of the mobile phone operator Safaricom to hold cash balances which are recorded on their SIM cards. Cash can be deposited or withdrawn from M-PESA accounts at Safaricom retail outlets located throughout the country and can be transferred electronically from person to person and used to pay bills to companies.
Branchless banking has also been successful in South Africa and the Philippines. A pilot project in Bali was launched in 2011 by the International Finance Corporation and an Indonesian bank, Bank Mandiri.
Mobile payments were first trialled in Finland in 1998 when two Coca-Cola vending machines in Espoo were enabled to work with SMS payments. Eventually, the idea spread and in 1999, the Philippines launched the country's first commercial mobile payments systems with mobile operators Globe and Smart.
Some mobile phones can make mobile payments via direct mobile billing schemes, or through contactless payments if the phone and the point of sale support near field communication (NFC). Enabling contactless payments through NFC-equipped mobile phones requires the co-operation of manufacturers, network operators, and retail merchants.
Mobile tracking
See also: Cellphone surveillance and Mobile phone trackingMobile phones are commonly used to collect location data. While the phone is turned on, the geographical location of a mobile phone can be determined easily (whether it is being used or not) using a technique known as multilateration to calculate the differences in time for a signal to travel from the mobile phone to each of several cell towers near the owner of the phone.
The movements of a mobile phone user can be tracked by their service provider and, if desired, by law enforcement agencies and their governments. Both the SIM card and the handset can be tracked.
China has proposed using this technology to track the commuting patterns of Beijing city residents. In the UK and US, law enforcement and intelligence services use mobile phones to perform surveillance operations.
Hackers have been able to track a phone's location, read messages, and record calls, through obtaining a subscribers phone number.
Electronic waste regulation
See also: Mobile phone recyclingStudies have shown that around 40–50% of the environmental impact of mobile phones occurs during the manufacture of their printed wiring boards and integrated circuits.
The average user replaces their mobile phone every 11 to 18 months, and the discarded phones then contribute to electronic waste. Mobile phone manufacturers within Europe are subject to the WEEE directive, and Australia has introduced a mobile phone recycling scheme.
Apple Inc. had an advanced robotic disassembler and sorter called Liam specifically for recycling outdated or broken iPhones.
Theft
According to the Federal Communications Commission, one out of three robberies involve the theft of a cellular phone. Police data in San Francisco show that half of all robberies in 2012 were thefts of cellular phones. An online petition on Change.org, called Secure our Smartphones, urged smartphone manufacturers to install kill switches in their devices to make them unusable if stolen. The petition is part of a joint effort by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón and was directed to the CEOs of the major smartphone manufacturers and telecommunication carriers. On 10 June 2013, Apple announced that it would install a "kill switch" on its next iPhone operating system, due to debut in October 2013.
All mobile phones have a unique identifier called IMEI. Anyone can report their phone as lost or stolen with their Telecom Carrier, and the IMEI would be blacklisted with a central registry. Telecom carriers, depending upon local regulation can or must implement blocking of blacklisted phones in their network. There are, however, a number of ways to circumvent a blacklist. One method is to send the phone to a country where the telecom carriers are not required to implement the blacklisting and sell it there, another involves altering the phone's IMEI number. Even so, mobile phones typically have less value on the second-hand market if the phones original IMEI is blacklisted.
Conflict minerals
Main article: Conflict mineralsDemand for metals used in mobile phones and other electronics fuelled the Second Congo War, which claimed almost 5.5 million lives. In a 2012 news story, The Guardian reported: "In unsafe mines deep underground in eastern Congo, children are working to extract minerals essential for the electronics industry. The profits from the minerals finance the bloodiest conflict since the second world war; the war has lasted nearly 20 years and has recently flared up again. For the last 15 years, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been a major source of natural resources for the mobile phone industry." The company Fairphone has worked to develop a mobile phone that does not contain conflict minerals.
Kosher phones
Due to concerns by the Orthodox Jewish rabbinate in Britain that texting by youths could waste time and lead to "immodest" communication, the rabbinate recommended that phones with text-messaging capability not be used by children; to address this, they gave their official approval to a brand of "Kosher" phones with no texting capabilities. Although these phones are intended to prevent immodesty, some vendors report good sales to adults who prefer the simplicity of the devices; other Orthodox Jews question the need for them.
In Israel, similar phones to kosher phones with restricted features exist to observe the sabbath; under Orthodox Judaism, the use of any electrical device is generally prohibited during this time, other than to save lives, or reduce the risk of death or similar needs. Such phones are approved for use by essential workers, such as health, security, and public service workers.
Restrictions
Restrictions on the use of mobile phones are applied in a number of different contexts, often with the goal of health, safety, security or proper functioning of an establishment, or as a matter of etiquette. Such contexts include:
While driving
Main articles: Mobile phones and driving safety and Texting while drivingMobile phone use while driving, including talking on the phone, texting, or operating other phone features, is common but controversial. It is widely considered dangerous due to distracted driving. Being distracted while operating a motor vehicle has been shown to increase the risk of accidents. In September 2010, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 995 people were killed by drivers distracted by cell phones. In March 2011, a US insurance company, State Farm Insurance, announced the results of a study which showed 19% of drivers surveyed accessed the Internet on a smartphone while driving. Many jurisdictions prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving. In Egypt, Israel, Japan, Portugal, and Singapore, both handheld and hands-free use of a mobile phone (which uses a speakerphone) is banned. In other countries, including the UK and France and in many US states, only handheld phone use is banned while hands-free use is permitted.
A 2011 study reported that over 90% of college students surveyed text (initiate, reply or read) while driving. The scientific literature on the dangers of driving while sending a text message from a mobile phone, or texting while driving, is limited. A simulation study at the University of Utah found a sixfold increase in distraction-related accidents when texting.
Due to the increasing complexity of mobile phones, they are often more like mobile computers in their available uses. This has introduced additional difficulties for law enforcement officials when attempting to distinguish one usage from another in drivers using their devices. This is more apparent in countries which ban both handheld and hands-free usage, rather than those which ban handheld use only, as officials cannot easily tell which function of the mobile phone is being used simply by looking at the driver. This can lead to drivers being stopped for using their device illegally for a phone call when, in fact, they were using the device legally, for example, when using the phone's incorporated controls for car stereo, GPS or satnav.
A 2010 study reviewed the incidence of mobile phone use while cycling and its effects on behaviour and safety. In 2013, a national survey in the US reported the number of drivers who reported using their cellphones to access the Internet while driving had risen to nearly one of four. A study conducted by the University of Vienna examined approaches for reducing inappropriate and problematic use of mobile phones, such as using mobile phones while driving.
Accidents involving a driver being distracted by talking on a mobile phone have begun to be prosecuted as negligence similar to speeding. In the United Kingdom, from 27 February 2007, motorists who are caught using a hand-held mobile phone while driving will have three penalty points added to their license in addition to the fine of £60. This increase was introduced to try to stem the increase in drivers ignoring the law. Japan prohibits all mobile phone use while driving, including use of hands-free devices. New Zealand has banned hand-held cell phone use since 1 November 2009. Many states in the United States have banned texting on cell phones while driving. Illinois became the 17th American state to enforce this law. As of July 2010, 30 states had banned texting while driving, with Kentucky becoming the most recent addition on 15 July.
Public Health Law Research maintains a list of distracted driving laws in the United States. This database of laws provides a comprehensive view of the provisions of laws that restrict the use of mobile communication devices while driving for all 50 states and the District of Columbia between 1992 when first law was passed, through 1 December 2010. The dataset contains information on 22 dichotomous, continuous or categorical variables including, for example, activities regulated (e.g., texting versus talking, hands-free versus handheld), targeted populations, and exemptions.
On aircraft
This section is an excerpt from Mobile phones on aircraft.In the U.S., Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit the use of mobile phones aboard aircraft in flight. Contrary to popular misconception, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not actually prohibit the use of personal electronic devices (including cell phones) on aircraft. Paragraph (b)(5) of 14 CFR 91.21 permits airlines to determine if devices can be used in flight, allowing use of "any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used."
In Europe, regulations and technology have allowed the limited introduction of the use of passenger mobile phones on some commercial flights, and elsewhere in the world many airlines are moving towards allowing mobile phone use in flight. Many airlines still do not allow the use of mobile phones on aircraft. Those that do often ban the use of mobile phones during take-off and landing.
Many passengers are pressing airlines and their governments to allow and deregulate mobile phone use, while some airlines, under the pressure of competition, are also pushing for deregulation or seeking new technology which could solve the present problems. Official aviation agencies and safety boards are resisting any relaxation of the present safety rules unless and until it can be conclusively shown that it would be safe to do so. There are both technical and social factors which make the issues more complex than a simple discussion of safety versus hazard. See also: Airplane modeWhile walking
Main article: Smartphones and pedestrian safetyIn 2010, an estimated 1500 pedestrians were injured in the US while using a cellphone and some jurisdictions have attempted to ban pedestrians from using their cellphones. Other countries, such as China and the Netherlands, have introduced special lanes for smartphone users to help direct and manage them.
In prisons
This section is an excerpt from Mobile phones in prison. In most jurisdictions, prison inmates are forbidden from possessing mobile phones due to their ability to communicate with the outside world and other security issues. Mobile phones are one of the most smuggled items into prisons. They provide inmates the ability to make and receive unauthorized phone calls, send email and text messages, use social media, and follow news pertaining to their case, among other forbidden uses.In hospitals
As of 2007, some hospitals had banned mobile devices due to a common misconception that their use would create significant electromagnetic interference.
Health effects
Main article: Mobile phone radiation and health See also: Nomophobia and Mobile phone overuseScreen time, the amount of time using a device with a screen, has become an issue for mobile phones since the adaptation of smartphones. Research is being conducted to show the correlation between screen time and the mental and physical harm in child development. To prevent harm, some parents and even governments have placed restrictions on its usage.
There have been rumors that mobile phone use can cause cancer, but this is a myth.
While there are rumors of mobile phones causing cancer, there was a study conducted by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that stated the there could be an increase risk of brain tumors with the use of smartphones, this is not confirmed. They also stated that with the lack of data for the research and the usage periods of 15 years will warrant further research for smartphones and the cause of brain tumors.
Educational impact
See also: Mobile phone use in schoolsA study by the London School of Economics found that banning mobile phones in schools could increase pupils' academic performance, providing benefits equal to one extra week of schooling per year.
Culture and popularity
See also: SMS language and XelibriMobile phones are considered an important human invention as it has been one of the most widely used and sold pieces of consumer technology. They have also become culturally symbolic. In Japanese mobile phone culture for example, mobile phones are often decorated with charms. They have also become fashion symbols at times. The Motorola Razr V3 and LG Chocolate are two examples of devices that were popular for being fashionable while not necessarily focusing on the original purpose of mobile phones, i.e. a device to provide mobile telephony.
Some have also suggested that mobile phones or smartphones are a status symbol. For example a research paper suggested that owning specifically an Apple iPhone was seen to be a status symbol.
Text messaging, which are performed on mobile phones, has also led to the creation of 'SMS language'. It also led to the growing popularity of emojis.
See also
- Camera phone
- Cellular frequencies
- Customer proprietary network information
- Field telephone
- List of countries by number of mobile phones in use
- Mobile broadband
- Mobile Internet device (MID)
- Mobile phone accessories
- Mobile phones on aircraft
- Mobile phone use in schools
- Mobile technology
- Mobile telephony
- Mobile phone form factor
- Optical head-mounted display
- OpenBTS
- Pager
- Personal digital assistant
- Personal Handy-phone System
- Prepaid mobile phone
- Two-way radio
- Push-button telephone
- Radiotelephone
- Rechargeable battery
- Smombie
- Surveillance
- Tethering
- VoIP phone
Notes
- Also known as a cellular phone, hand phone or pocket phone, and sometimes shortened to simply mobile or just phone.
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- Rachel C. Vreeman, Aaron E. Carroll, "Medical Myths", The British Medical Journal (now called The BMJ) 335:1288 (December 20, 2007), doi:10.1136/bmj.39420.420370.25
- "Definition of SCREEN TIME". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
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Further reading
- Agar, Jon, Constant Touch: A Global History of the Mobile Phone, 2004 ISBN 1-84046-541-7
- Fessenden, R. A. (1908). "Wireless Telephony". Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. The Institution: 161–196. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
- Glotz, Peter & Bertsch, Stefan, eds. Thumb Culture: The Meaning of Mobile Phones for Society, 2005
- Goggin, Gerard, Global Mobile Media (New York: Routledge, 2011), p. 176. ISBN 978-0-415-46918-0
- Jain, S. Lochlann (2002). "Urban Errands: The Means of Mobility". Journal of Consumer Culture. 2: 385–404. doi:10.1177/146954050200200305. S2CID 145577892.
- Katz, James E. & Aakhus, Mark, eds. Perpetual Contact: Mobile Communication, Private Talk, Public Performance, 2002
- Kavoori, Anandam & Arceneaux, Noah, eds. The Cell Phone Reader: Essays in Social Transformation, 2006
- Kennedy, Pagan. Who Made That Cellphone? Archived 4 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, 15 March 2013, p. MM19
- Kopomaa, Timo. The City in Your Pocket, Gaudeamus 2000
- Levinson, Paul, Cellphone: The Story of the World's Most Mobile Medium, and How It Has Transformed Everything!, 2004 ISBN 1-4039-6041-0
- Ling, Rich, The Mobile Connection: the Cell Phone's Impact on Society, 2004 ISBN 1-55860-936-9
- Ling, Rich and Pedersen, Per, eds. Mobile Communications: Re-negotiation of the Social Sphere, 2005 ISBN 1-85233-931-4
- Home page of Rich Ling
- Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. Mobile Communication: Essays on Cognition and Community, 2003
- Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. Mobile Learning: Essays on Philosophy, Psychology and Education, 2003
- Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. Mobile Democracy: Essays on Society, Self and Politics, 2003
- Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. A Sense of Place: The Global and the Local in Mobile Communication, 2005
- Nyíri, Kristóf, ed. Mobile Understanding: The Epistemology of Ubiquitous Communication, 2006
- Plant, Sadie, on the mobile – the effects of mobile telephones on social and individual life, 2001
- Rheingold, Howard, Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution, 2002 ISBN 0-7382-0861-2
- Singh, Rohit (April 2009). Mobile phones for development and profit: a win-win scenario (PDF). Overseas Development Institute. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
External links
- "How Cell Phones Work" at HowStuffWorks
- "The Long Odyssey of the Cell Phone", 15 photos with captions from Time magazine
- Cell Phone, the ring heard around the world – a video documentary by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
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