Cell Phone Technology

Pre-paid cell phones, aka burner phones, are a common way for people to make calls and text anonymously, but can burners really escape detection?

By Talon Homer

The younger generation is ditching their smartphones in favor of "dumb phones" in an effort to curb their screen time and digitally detox.

By Omar H. Fares

The ability to unlock your iPhone means that you can use it with different carriers. To unlock your iPhone, use these steps.

By Jeremy Glass

You can replace your iPhone easily but what about its contents? That's why it's good to back them up. Here's how.

By Chris Pollette

If you're in the market for a new smartphone, have you thought of what you'll do with your old one? We've got five ways to donate your old smartphone or cell phone to charity.

By Nathan Chandler

Do you still believe that the smartphone with the most pixels takes the best pictures? That charging a battery overnight ruins it? If so, you're not alone. We'll explain why these oft-believed myths are just outdated.

By Nathan Chandler

You'd be surprised at some of the new tricks your old cellphones and smartphones can do.

By Dave Roos

Thieves get their hands on your ID or passwords, then contact your mobile carrier and transfer your credentials to a new device.

By Chris Opfer

Weird things can affect your call's signal strength — like that city bus that just blocked your path, or the fact that it's raining outside.

By Nathan Chandler

Wouldn't it be great to never have to charge your phone? Scientists think they've cracked the code on doing that.

By Jonathan Strickland

Smartphones stop talking to satellites and cell phone networks when put in airplane mode. Does that make a difference when loading up the battery?

By Patrick J. Kiger

We worry about the wrong things when it comes to prolonging the battery life of our gadgets. Here's what really matters.

By Dave Roos

What does your choice of smartphone say about who you are and how others perceive you?

By Christopher Hassiotis

A snippet of melody played on an obscure musical instrument has become a ubiquitous part of the modern world's background noise. Who wrote it? Where'd it come from?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Ever wished the dude in front of you would just put down his phone and watch the concert? Apple's one of several companies working to enable that seemingly simple desire.

By Jonathan Strickland

It's drive time. You open up your Google Maps app to see where the traffic bottlenecks are. But where does the app get its information? Here's a hint: It might come from you.

By Beth Brindle

An ever-expanding network of cell towers means you can call a friend from some of the world's most remote spots. But can you do it from the bottom of the ocean?

By Beth Brindle

You just sent someone a text message on your iPhone, and now you're waiting for him to text back. You know he's typing something because you see those three little bubbles. But how does your phone know that?

By Beth Brindle

Amazon's jumped into the smartphone market with a device that's loaded with bells and whistles. But does the Fire phone pose a threat to privacy? And is it just geared to making us buy more things from Amazon?

By Bernadette Johnson

Cell phone theft accounts for nearly half of all U.S. robberies. That's why some big city mayors are calling for mandatory kill switches on phones to make them inoperable if stolen. But mobile carriers are fighting the requirement. Why?

By Laurie L. Dove

You may have been awakened in the night by loud blaring noise and an alert text on your phone. Who sends these alerts, and why are you getting them?

By Bernadette Johnson

Unlike conventional gadgetry, fuel-cell-powered devices run on a liquid fuel that you pour into a tank. Would people really be willing to adopt the technology, and isn't there a risk of spilling fuel?

By Jonathan Strickland

When we think about environmentally friendly cell phones, typically the first things that come to mind are their energy efficiency, the elimination of toxins in their manufacturing, their recyclability, or even what green apps we use. Learn more about how much radiation does your cell phone emit.

By Jaymi Heimbuch

A cell-phone tower is typically a steel pole or lattice structure that rises hundreds of feet into the air. Take a look at these pictures to learn more how cell phone towers work.

2G cell phone networks use three different types of technologies: FDMA, TDMA and CDMA. Learn what CDMA phones are in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors