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frindley commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
Is it my imagination, or is mobile gradually taking over from cell/cell phone in the States?
It's always been "mobile" in Australia. I used to have a landline answering machine message that went something like "Hello… you've reached me on my immobile phone, please leave a message."
Personally I like the German term: handy. As in, "I'll call you on the handy."
November 2, 2008
bilby commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
I used to like handy. Then I heard it too frequently used by my German flatmate, often when telling people to call him on his handy when the 'deal' was ready. I was glad to be shot of him after two months. But ever since then the word has sounded a bit sleazy.
November 2, 2008
dontcry commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
I believe cell will prevail -- it's shorter.
November 2, 2008
bilby commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
The original Indonesian term was telpon genggam, 'fist phone'. Yep, ugly. It then gave way to ponsel, an amalgan of -pon from telpon and sel for cell. Mobile is gaining ground, perhaps because it sounds thoroughly foreign and thus trendier.
November 2, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
Bilby, were you shot? or shut? *worries*
November 2, 2008
bilby commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
Shot.
November 2, 2008
frogapplause commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
Each time bilby refers to one of his "flatmates", I can't help but picture him cohabitating with roadkill.
November 3, 2008
reesetee commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
As I recall, "mobile" was used more often in the U.S. when the concept was new, and "cell" is now used much more frequently. It's one of the reasons e-mail programs make me a little nutsy--they all still seem to call it "mobile."
November 3, 2008
frogapplause commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
Handy? Never heard that before.
November 3, 2008
bilby commented on the word cell phone v mobile phone
I'm sure you drive too fast, pink cadillac on the frogway of love.
November 3, 2008