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Why is it still called a phone?

Notice...the term "Mobile Device" is being used a lot more now days, for the reason that started this thread, because that can include cell phones, smartphones, ipods, mp3players, ipads, tabs, psps, gameboys, and all of these non-laptop mobile entertainment and productivity devices.
So,
Mobile Device.
 
^can you really call it a mobile device without sounding like a douche? I will call it a phone until the rest of the population catches up.
 
i mean if a friend of mine wanted to see my "device" he would say "can i see your phone" and i would do the same if i wanted to "see his phone". i'm not gonna say "hey dude let me see your mobile device" because then, as mrsbelpit sadi, i would sound like a douche.
 
mrqs said:
no phone is as good as a dslr for taking pictures
no phone is as powerful as a dedicated desktop computer
no phone is as good for browsing as a full-on computer
no phone delivers sound like proper music equipment
no phone is as good for reading on as a dedicated e-book reader

but there isn't a device that does phone calls significantly better - all the other functions are miniature versions of the real thing
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IMO a landline phone has better call quality than any mobile phone. By your definition that makes these phones not as powerful as a landline. The difference is that it is all those things (that you say it is not) in an ultra light, ultra portable form.

Why don't we call it something else? IMO probably because it started out as just a phone and the name stuck. Same with a computer. Sure it is computing data, but so are analog clocks, dvd players, etc. Computer is called a computer because at one point all it was used for is crunching data, not so much as an entetainment device. Of course it still "only" crunches data, but makes it looks much more sexy ;)
 
brandonj0100 said:
Notice...the term "Mobile Device" is being used a lot more now days, for the reason that started this thread, because that can include cell phones, smartphones, ipods, mp3players, ipads, tabs, psps, gameboys, and all of these non-laptop mobile entertainment and productivity devices.
So,
Mobile Device.
Click to expand...

The only place I ever see that used is on a plane (ie "turn off your mobile devices during take off and landing). Lumping everything into that category as you suggest would be a little silly. It's like going to the supermarket and asking where their food is. Wouldn't get you very far ;)
 
The word "phone" is simple, elegant and describes the basic function of the device. If you list all of the possible functions of cell phones these days, a higher percentage of people will use it to make calls than for taking pictures, surfing or any other function it may perform. The word "phone" is also understood by people who do not use the advanced functions of the latest mobile devices. My parents know nothing about technology. They will understand what I mean when I hold up my device and call it a phone. If I call it something else, like a "multifunction device", they wouldn't know what I was talking about.

I suspect the word "phone" will be used for many years to come. (That is until around the 23rd century where it will be called a communicator or tricorder.) :D
 
lordofthereef said:
IMO a landline phone has better call quality than any mobile phone. By your definition that makes these phones not as powerful as a landline. The difference is that it is all those things (that you say it is not) in an ultra light, ultra portable form.
Click to expand...
if you bothered to read the next post as well, you'd see i've already answered that

mrqs said:
a landline may be slightly clearer, but these days there's hardly a difference in voice quality
[...]

all the other functions have significantly better counterparts

of course we call these devices phones, because that's what they evolved from - they didn't use to be anything more and the name stuck even after they became more
but i do think there's still more logic in the name than that
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dan330 said:
it is my pocket genie....

and dude.. dont you ever ask to see my "pocket genie"!
Click to expand...

...if you rub it, do you get three wishes?



Aaand, keeping on topic, I usually call it a "cell" or "mobile"... by nearly any definition of either of those words, it fits.

It occurs to me, though, that when I'm needing it for actual voice communication, I'll nearly always ask my husband to "hand me my phone".
 
I dislike the term 'smartphone' because it sounds pompous. I absolutely loathe that some people say 'dumbphone'. Call it a phone or a cell phone. I don't think it's misleading at all, but it is humble--for those who don't mind being humble, that is. Everyone--and I literally mean everyone on this planet--knows what you are talking about if you say cell phone; it just so happens some have more features than others.
 
I still call it a phone because it still looks like a phone and function like a phone albeit with so much features.
 
Convention, my boy, convention.

Just like why we still say that a current flows from positive to negative. Because it's too troublesome to change.
 
lunameow said:
...if you rub it, do you get three wishes?



Aaand, keeping on topic, I usually call it a "cell" or "mobile"... by nearly any definition of either of those words, it fits.

It occurs to me, though, that when I'm needing it for actual voice communication, I'll nearly always ask my husband to "hand me my phone".
Click to expand...


LOL.. funny...

If I can get some nice lady to "rub" the genie out...
Then.. Yes.. i got my wish! :p
 
Lol, I like this thread. I think the term phone is just fine for referring to out "cellular devices", lol. It's simple, to the point and even grandma will know what your talking about.
 
In the UK phones have been called 'mobile phones' for a long time. This frequently gets shortened to 'mobile', which i think is a good solution to this problem. The name 'mobile' can refer to any aspect of your device.
 
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