Am I the only person who distinguishes between mobile phones, which have their own numbers and use many telco operated base stations, and portable phones, which have only one base station through which they connect to a landline? (Not sure if this terminology is common, or just my idiolect...) -- SJK
- No, I also draw this distinction, and I think most telephone companies and the industry generally does as well. kiwiinapanic 22:27 Jan 19, 2003 (UTC)
- A Mobile Phone is often called a Cellular Phone and is one that can be taken anywhere in the service area and it will work.
- A Portable Phone is perhaps better described as a cordless phone and is associated with a fixed telephone landline. It can only be operated in close proximity to (less than 100 metres of) it's base station, and generally only works within a house, bulding or property.