Poll: Should cellphones be called something else now?

[King of the Sandbox]

Here they're called Mobiles. It's very suitable, because they're mobile...

Mobile what though? Say phone, and if it takes pictures, texts and surfs the web, I'll e-smack you for not reading the OP.

 

[manaman]

They have already been trying to differentiate regular cellphones from the mobile wonder devices by calling them Smartphones.

It doesn't seem to be catching well since nobody has mentioned this yet.

That's because it still has phone in it, and giving just one app of the product as the name is well, imo... kinda stupid.

The major function and the only one they all do universally well (except possibly the iPhone and a couple of blackberrys) is the normal phone crap. Messages, and voice calls. On most phones everything else feels a bit tacked on.

Sure some things shine on some phones. I will give the iPhone credit, it does have a shiny interface, but the camera sucks, most of the apps are just gimmicks, the browser is laggy and when I checked it out crash prone when you tried to view full sites (not mobile versions) it can't replace a computer, it's not an efficient game system.

Most people only use the camera, media players, and game on their phones because they always have the device with them, as stand alone device designed to do the same functions do them many times better.

You might not use the phone as often anymore, but that is still what the device is: A phone with stuff attached. Historically devices that worked the other way around have failed. Check out the Nokia game system that was also a phone if you want an example.

Now that trend is changing as they are able to shove fancier pieces of electronics into your hand. The next few years or so may just see more media oriented devices that also have phone functions, but until they can build out a simple board that houses everything you need for the phone operation on the network in a fairly standardized package then you are going to have the devices be phones first, with everything designed around that.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Here they're called Mobiles. It's very suitable, because they're mobile...

Mobile what though? Say phone, and if it takes pictures, texts and surfs the web, I'll e-smack you for not reading the OP.

It's a mobile phone. It's a phone, that is mobile. It also has other features, but is primarily used for phoning. Also, most people abbreviate it to mobile, so it fits pretty well anyway.

 

[Devon Dent]

well 'cell' refers to the battery, and not the phone it's self, in all realism a cordless phone is also a 'cell' phone. I think that a new name would be cool, like 'get out of my way, i am walking.' or 'don't use that thing in here, where i work, and tell me to be quiet.' i like those names.

 

[Zacharine]

Mobile phone works pretty well.

And for the more advanced models... well, ever heard of Smart Phones?

The terminology is there already. Mainly because the manufacturers realized this exact same thing, and figured out what to call their newest product to attract the largest amount of customers: "No sir, this is not a cell phone, it's a smart phone! Now with 34% more computing power and high-speed internet!"

 

[King of the Sandbox]

They have already been trying to differentiate regular cellphones from the mobile wonder devices by calling them Smartphones.

It doesn't seem to be catching well since nobody has mentioned this yet.

That's because it still has phone in it, and giving just one app of the product as the name is well, imo... kinda stupid.

The major function and the only one they all do universally well (except possibly the iPhone and a couple of blackberrys) is the normal phone crap. Messages, and voice calls. On most phones everything else feels a bit tacked on.

Sure some things shine on some phones. I will give the iPhone credit, it does have a shiny interface, but the camera sucks, most of the apps are just gimmicks, the browser is laggy and when I checked it out crash prone when you tried to view full sites (not mobile versions) it can't replace a computer, it's not an efficient game system.

Most people only use the camera, media players, and game on their phones because they always have the device with them, as stand alone device designed to do the same functions do them many times better.

You might not use the phone as often anymore, but that is still what the device is: A phone with stuff attached. Historically devices that worked the other way around have failed. Check out the Nokia game system that was also a phone if you want an example.

Now that trend is changing as they are able to shove fancier pieces of electronics into your hand. The next few years or so may just see more media oriented devices that also have phone functions, but until they can build out a simple board that houses everything you need for the phone operation on the network in a fairly standardized package then you are going to have the devices be phones first, with everything designed around that.

Fair enough, but with the proliferation of texting, I'd be more inclined to call them texters than phones. I, quite literally, see 20 people texting for every one on the phone.

Here they're called Mobiles. It's very suitable, because they're mobile...

Mobile what though? Say phone, and if it takes pictures, texts and surfs the web, I'll e-smack you for not reading the OP.

It's a mobile phone. It's a phone, that is mobile. It also has other features, but is primarily used for phoning. Also, most people abbreviate it to mobile, so it fits pretty well anyway.

[HEADING=1]*E-SLAP*[/HEADING]

 

[gotta]

It's called a cellphone because the coverage is spread over a "cellular" network of base stations. Nothing to do with the batteries or it's size... (WTF)

 

[Phoenixlight]

I've always called them mobile phones but I don't really care if they get a new name.

 

[Lou]

Back to Telecommunicators I say!

 

[ffs-dontcare]

I'd rather stick to "mobile phones", or simple "mobile" or "phone". To me there's no reason to change the name of it, because despite all its features it's still a phone that you can use to talk to others by voice, even if it has a shitload of features along with it.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

I'd rather stick to "phones". To me there's no reason to change the name of it, because despite all its features it's still a phone even if it has a shitload of features.

So, then, by that logic, computers should still be called calculators, right?

 

[crudus]

I don't think so. It is convention to call them cellphones at this point and there is no harm in actually calling them that.

Leela's arm thingy

That's your proposed new idea? alright I'll take it. Cellphones are now called "Leela's arm thingy". I suppose you may substitute you own name if you wish.

 

[foodmaniac]

I've always found the name cellphone a little weird. I just called them mobiles, but I like the idea of coms.

 

[ffs-dontcare]

I'd rather stick to "phones". To me there's no reason to change the name of it, because despite all its features it's still a phone even if it has a shitload of features.

So, then, by that logic, computers should still be called calculators, right?

If you want to call them calculators, then fine. It's not affecting me. If people like you want to call phones something else like comms, then go for it as long as you don't gasp when people like me continue to call them phones. It won't matter because it's merely colloquial in the end.

Really, who cares what they're called.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

I'd rather stick to "phones". To me there's no reason to change the name of it, because despite all its features it's still a phone even if it has a shitload of features.

So, then, by that logic, computers should still be called calculators, right?

If you want to call them calculators, then fine. It's not affecting me. If people like you want to call phones something else like comms, then go for it as long as you don't gasp when people like me continue to call them phones. It won't matter because it's merely colloquial in the end.

Really, who cares what they're called.

Uhm, people who favor logic? It just seems so out of place for me to call them phones anymore, as I see more texting and photo sharing than actual calls nowadays. Hell, I had a friend pick up his phone, tell me he was busy doing something, and asked me to text him instead.

I raged so hard.

 

[ffs-dontcare]

I'd rather stick to "phones". To me there's no reason to change the name of it, because despite all its features it's still a phone even if it has a shitload of features.

So, then, by that logic, computers should still be called calculators, right?

If you want to call them calculators, then fine. It's not affecting me. If people like you want to call phones something else like comms, then go for it as long as you don't gasp when people like me continue to call them phones. It won't matter because it's merely colloquial in the end.

Really, who cares what they're called.

Uhm, people who favor logic? It just seems so out of place for me to call them phones anymore, as I see more texting and photo sharing than actual calls nowadays. Hell, I had a friend pick up his phone, tell me he was busy doing something, and asked me to text him instead.

I raged so hard.

People who favour logic? Oh my goodness. Is it really that important that we call them something other than phones?

As I said, you can call them something other than "phones" if you like, I won't really care. Personally I think that it's not worth worrying about what they're called.

 

[B2kCyclops]

In germany they are called "Handys".
Don't ask me why, I think some guy came up with it and it stuck.
Very few people still say "Mobiltelefon", wich literary means "mobile phone", but it sounds kinda old-fashioned to many people, so they went with "Handy".
A lot of people around here really think it is called that way in the UK/USA and are often very confused when they are asked for their cell or mobile.
I think it could be an appropiate term in english-speaking countries because of all the functions many of them have.

But I honestly don't see what's wrong with "mobile".
It is still a moblie phone.
With gimmicks.
When I speak english, I use "mobile" and, to me, it feels just right.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

I'd rather stick to "phones". To me there's no reason to change the name of it, because despite all its features it's still a phone even if it has a shitload of features.

So, then, by that logic, computers should still be called calculators, right?

If you want to call them calculators, then fine. It's not affecting me. If people like you want to call phones something else like comms, then go for it as long as you don't gasp when people like me continue to call them phones. It won't matter because it's merely colloquial in the end.

Really, who cares what they're called.

Uhm, people who favor logic? It just seems so out of place for me to call them phones anymore, as I see more texting and photo sharing than actual calls nowadays. Hell, I had a friend pick up his phone, tell me he was busy doing something, and asked me to text him instead.

I raged so hard.

People who favour logic? Oh my goodness. Is it really that important that we call them something other than phones?

As I said, you can call them something other than "phones" if you like, I won't really care. Personally I think that it's not worth worrying about what they're called.

I think it's important to allay confusion. Imagine it like this; Let's say aliens hit the planet. We show them our 'phones'. They scratch their head, think of us as backwoods hicks, and leave us to be wiped out by the coming space plague, deeming us too stupid to exist any longer.

Ok, that's a reach, and honestly, I'm not seriously up in arms about it or anything, I just find it silly and contradictory to call them phones when they're used more as telegraphs now.

But fair enough. I will call them Leela's Arm Thingies (LAT's) or Comms from now on. Please continue to call them whatever you wish as well. ^_^

In Germany they are called "Handys".

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha, ok, that's the new name for them. It's humorous and functional, because you use your hands to use it, and it's actually pretty handy.

Heehee... 'handy'.

 

[Angerwing]

Here they're called Mobiles. It's very suitable, because they're mobile...

Mobile what though? Say phone, and if it takes pictures, texts and surfs the web, I'll e-smack you for not reading the OP.

Mobile multi-purpose devices. Mobiles for short.