Cell Phone Technology
Today's cell phone technology is advancing at a rapid pace while prices are getting lower. We'll explore everything from the advanced -- the iPhone or the future of the Google phone -- to cell phone viruses and ring tones.
How to Hide Apps on Your iPhone
6 Road Trip Apps You Need Before You Leave
You Track the Weather. Does Your Weather App Track You Back?
Inside a Cordless Telephone
How the Verizon Hub Works
How do digital answering machines work?
Think That's Your Kid Calling for Money? It Could Be a Voice Deepfake
Will the U.S. Ever Run Out of Telephone Numbers?
Remember Pay Phones? Philly's Bringing Them Back for Free
What the End of 3G Service Means to You
How Does My Phone Company Know a Call Is From a Scammer?
How Bluetooth Works
Learn More
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.
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
Advertisement
You can replace your iPhone easily but what about its contents? That's why it's good to back them up. Here's how.
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.
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 We'll explain why these oft-believed myths are just outdated.
You'd be surprised at some of the new tricks your old cellphones and smartphones can do.
By Dave Roos
Advertisement
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.
Wouldn't it be great to never have to charge your phone? Scientists think they've cracked the code on doing that.
Smartphones stop talking to satellites and cell phone networks when put in airplane mode. Does that make a difference when loading up the battery?
Advertisement
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?
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?
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.
Advertisement
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?
Advertisement
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?
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?
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?
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.
Advertisement
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.