why is a mobile phone called as "cell phone"?

Answer 1

As others have answered, it's because the signal is passed from one "cell", or transmitting tower to another as you move.

Up until the mid or late 80's, there were still mobile phones which were not cell phones. These were basically just specialized radios, and had limited range. They were expensive and limited to people like doctors and the wealthy. I'm not sure when they finally phased them out, or even if they are still available somewhere, but as cell phones became more & more common, and the coverage got better, there was just no need for the old style mobile phones, and the two terms became synonymous.

Answer 2

Mobile phones are connected to a cellular network of base stations.A cellular network is a radio network consisting of radio cells all maintained by individual transmitters called base station(also Cell site).When we talk on such a mobile phone, the signals from our mobile are being received and sent to a nearby base station. The cells are utilized to spread over large and varied areas in order to provide network over a wider area than the area of single cell.That is why the word cell came.The name was first used in North America.It was introduced for convenience by electronics and electrical engineers and technicians in America so that the applied technology and the phones get the same name.There are more such names for this gadget.In Britain many people call it "handy".The word 'handset' is also in vogue.

Answer 3

The question should be "Why is a cell/cellular 'phone called a mobile?"

A cell 'phone is a walkie-talkie, i.e. a radio transceiver, a radio system.

A mobile radio system is one which is fitted into a means of transportation - a road vehicle or aircraft for instance. Or it was until the media (typically) got it wrong.

Yes, "Because americans like to mess up the english launguge"

And so do my fellow British citizens. The vast majority are virtually illiterate and inarticulate.

Answer 4

Actually tht is not "cell phone".Instead "Cellular phone". "Cell" is for short.Todays mobile phones are connected to a cellular network of base stations.A cellular network is a radio network consisting of radio cells all maintained by individual transmitters called base station(also Cell site).When we talk on such a mobile phone, the signals from our mobile are being received and sent to a nearby base station. The cells are utilized to spread over large and varied areas in order to provide network over a wider area than the area of single cell.That is why the word cell came.The name was first used in North America.It was introduced for convinience by electronics and electrical engineers and technicians in America so that the applied technology and the phones get the same name.There are more such names for this gadget.In Britain many people call it "handy".The word 'handset' is also in vogue.

Answer 5

Term used currently in the United States and Canada (and in other countries as well during the 1980s) to refer to most mobile phones. It technically applies specifically to mobile phones which use a cellular network. In developing mobile phone technology, American electrical engineers saw the main technical problem as achieving a smooth handoff from one radio antenna to the next. After the name "cell" was applied to the zone covered by each antenna, it was a natural choice for them to apply the term "cellular" to both the technology and the phones that ran on it.

Answer 6

Because the proper term would be " cellular phone"

cellular from websters definition means:

of, relating to, or being a radiotelephone system in which a geographical area (as a city) is divided into small sections each served by a transmitter of limited range so that any available radio channel can be used in different parts of the area simultaneously

Answer 7

keeping away THE NAMING PRECEDENCE CELLULAR OR MOBILE WHICH EVER CAME FIRST for discussion .

cellular phone is so called because it uses space division multiplexing for reusablity of scarce resource like bandwidth.

each tower is alloted one bandwidth of frequncy and works
in that frequency.

the tower reachable from 1KM to 10km based on the metro/suburban area.

this area which covered is a cell.

the metro network has many cells to have full coverage
each cell alloted a bandwidth that doesnot interfere with
adjascent cells.

now u understand why cell.

Answer 8

Cell = Battery so battery phone

Answer 9

If you were trapped in a cell you could call somebody!

Answer 10

well it is not "cell phone" actually it is "Cellular phone"
"Cell" comes short and easy to speak so for our convenience we have made it "cell phone" from "cellular phone"