Mobile phone

A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable wireless telephone that lets people make and receive calls while moving around. Unlike fixed phones, mobile phones use a special radio frequency link to connect to a network, allowing users to stay in touch no matter where they are. This connection works through a system called a cellular network, which is why they are often called "cell phones."

Over time, mobile phones have grown to do much more than just voice calls. They now support text messaging, email, and internet access, as well as many other tasks like taking pictures, playing games, and even getting directions. Some phones, called smartphones, are very powerful and can do even more.

The very first handheld mobile phone was shown by Martin Cooper of Motorola in New York City in 1973. Since then, mobile phones have become very popular all around the world. Today, they are used by billions of people and are considered one of the most important inventions in modern life.

Name

A mobile phone is also called a cell phone, especially in North America. These are shorter ways to say "mobile telephone" and "cellular telephone." People often just call it a "phone," "mobile," or "cell." Other old words for mobile phones include "mobile handset," "wireless phone," "mobile terminal," "cellular device," "hand phone," and "pocket phone," but we don’t use those much anymore.

History

Main article: History of mobile phones

See also: List of wireless network technologies

Mobile phones have come a long way since their early days. The idea of a small, portable telephone was first imagined in the early days of radio. After World War II, inventors around the world began working on making portable phones a reality.

The first real step came in 1973 when two inventors from Motorola created the first handheld mobile phone. It was heavy, weighing about 2 kilograms, but it worked! The first mobile phone call was made in 1979 in Japan, and soon many countries started their own networks. These early phones used a technology called analog, which worked well but had limits.

In the 1990s, a new digital technology called GSM began in Finland, allowing for text messages and better quality calls. Over time, phones got smarter and faster. By the early 2000s, phones could connect to the internet and send pictures. Today, we have 5G, which makes everything faster and helps with things like online games and watching videos on your phone.

Types

Smartphone

Main article: Smartphone

Smartphones are advanced phones that can connect to the internet and run many different apps. They are very popular in countries with lots of technology. In places where technology is still growing, about half of all mobile phones are smartphones.

Feature phone

Main article: Feature phone

Feature phones are simpler phones that can do more than just make calls and send texts. They can handle basic internet use and multimedia, but they are not as advanced as smartphones. These phones often have special software made just for them, unlike smartphones which use common operating systems.

Infrastructure

Main articles: Cellular network and Wi-Fi

Modern mobile phones use a special system called a cellular network. This system allows many people to talk on their phones at the same time in the same area. Unlike older systems that could only handle a few calls, cellular networks divide areas into small sections called cells. Each cell has its own tower, and these towers use different radio frequencies so calls don’t mix up.

When you move from one cell to another, your phone automatically switches to a new tower so your call continues without stopping. This helps everyone stay connected, even in busy places like cities where many people use their phones at once. Sometimes, extra towers are added for big events or emergencies to handle more calls. Digital technology also helps by letting one frequency handle many calls at the same time. Smartphones often use Wi-Fi when possible to save space on the mobile network.

Hardware

Mobile phones have several important parts that help them work. These include a brain called a central processing unit (CPU), a battery for power, a way for you to type or touch the screen, a screen to show information, speakers for sound, and special cards that help the phone connect to networks.

Older phones, called feature phones, have simpler parts and do basic things like making calls. Newer phones, called smartphones, have more powerful parts and can run many apps. The screen is a big part of most phones today, and they can be small or very large. Phones also need special cards to work and connect to the network, which help you switch between different phones easily.

Software

Main article: Mobile operating system

Mobile phones come with different types of software. Simple phones have basic software, while smartphones run on full operating systems. The two most popular systems are Android and iOS. Android has been the most used system worldwide since 2011 and, as of March 2025, it had 71.9% of the market, while iOS had 27.7%.

Main article: Mobile app

A mobile app is a program made to work on a smartphone. One common feature of mobile phones is text messaging, known as Short Message Service (SMS). The first SMS message was sent in 1992 in the UK, and the first person-to-person SMS was sent in Finland in 1993. Later, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) was introduced in March 2002, allowing pictures and other media to be sent.

Main article: List of mobile app distribution platforms

In July 2008, Apple introduced the App Store for iPhones, which made it easier for people to download apps made by others. This idea was copied by other phone makers, who created their own app stores, like Google's Android Market (now called the Google Play Store) and others. Today, most app developers focus on making apps for smartphones.

Sales

See also: List of best-selling mobile phones and List of mobile phone brands by country

As of 2022, the top five companies making mobile phones were Samsung (21%), Apple (16%), Xiaomi (13%), Oppo (10%), and Vivo (9%).

In the early days, from 1983 to 1998, Motorola was the top maker of mobile phones. Then Nokia led from 1998 to 2012. In early 2012, Samsung sold more phones than Nokia and has stayed in the top spot since then.

The biggest mobile service company in the world is China Mobile, with over 902 million customers as of June 2018. By the end of 2009, over 150 mobile companies had at least one million customers. In 2014, there were more than seven billion people using mobile phones around the world, and this number continues to grow.

Use

Mobile phones are used for many things, like staying in touch with family, working, and having a phone ready if there's an emergency. Some people carry more than one mobile phone for different uses, such as one for work and another for personal calls. They might also use different phone plans by having multiple SIM cards to save money on calls.

Mobile phones have changed how people live and communicate. For example, they help people share news quickly, support important causes, and connect people in places without regular phones. In some areas, mobile phones are shared among families or groups, which helps everyone stay connected without needing their own phone. They are also useful for health, like helping people with diabetes track their health and get support when needed.

Culture and popularity

See also: SMS language and Xelibri

Mobile phones are one of the most popular inventions because so many people use and buy them. They have become important symbols in culture. For example, in Japanese mobile phone culture, people often decorate their phones with charms, and sometimes phones become fashion statements. Phones like the Motorola Razr V3 and LG Chocolate were famous for looking stylish.

Text messaging on mobile phones created new ways of talking, such as 'SMS language' and the use of emojis. Some people also see having certain phones, like an Apple iPhone, as a sign of their status or how well-off they are.