Mobile phone

A cellphone or cellular phone, also known as a mobile phone, is a portable electronic device which behaves as a normal

Worldwide deployment

Cellphones have a long and varied history that stretches back to the 1950s, with hand-held devices being available since 1983. Due to their low establishment costs and rapid deployment, cellphone networks have since spread rapidly throughout the world, outstripping the growth of fixed telephony.

Related Topics:
Long and varied history - Fixed telephony

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In most of Europe, wealthier parts of Asia, Australia, and the US, cellphones are now widely used, with the majority of the adult, teenage, and even child population owning one. The number of cell phone subscribers in the US has reached over 190 million. The availability of Prepaid or pay as you go services, where the subscriber does not have to commit to a long term contract, has helped fuel this growth.

Related Topics:
Europe - Asia - Australia - Prepaid - Pay as you go

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The cellphone has become ubiquitous because of the interoperability of cellphones across different networks and countries. This is due to the equipment manufacturers all working to the same standard, particularly the GSM standard which was designed for Europe-wide interoperability. All European nations and some Asian nations chose it as their sole standard, while in Japan and South Korea another standard, CDMA, was selected.

Related Topics:
GSM - Japan - South Korea - CDMA

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