I think they started out calling them mobile phones here, but the connections were based on cellular webs as explained by Mr Red above. The younger generation began to acquire these phones and dubbed them "cell" phones, and the name stuck, here at least.

So my problem is this: I want a phone that will let me check email on the road. I initially was given a phone for Christmas that supposedly had internet access but not email. How is that possible, if I have web-based mail (e.g. on Yahoo)?? In order to get email, they claim I need a phone with pop3 built in. Isn't that just to download the email that you would need pop3? To just read it on the web, isn't internet access enough?

Another problem is this: the next phone I was given, after returning the first one, has all kinds of features like a built-in still and video camera, blue tooth, games, calendar, etc. etc. What the heck is blue tooth? And what can you do with photos that you take on your phone? I'm dreading reading the thick manual that came with the thing...

Bah, user-unfriendly technology.