Telephone

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The telephone (from the Greek: τῆλε, tēle, "far" and φωνή, phōnē, "voice") is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sound, most commonly the human voice. It is one of the most common household appliances in the developed world, and has long been considered indispensable to business, industry and government. The word "telephone" has been adapted to many languages and is widely recognized around the world.

The device operates principally by converting sound waves into electrical signals, and electrical signals into sound waves. Such signals when conveyed through telephone networks — and often converted to electronic and/or optical signals — enable nearly every telephone user to communicate with nearly every other worldwide. Graphic symbols used to designate telephone service or phone-related information in print, signage, and other media include ℡, ☎, ☏, and ✆.

For more information about Telephone, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with phone

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New rechargeable zinc-air batteries coming soon

New rechargeable zinc-air batteries coming soon

Technology / Energy

created Oct 29, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (45) | comments 15

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new breed of rechargeable zinc-air batteries is soon to be available, and may replace lithium-ion batteries in cell phones, laptops and other consumer items. Lithium-ion batteries store ...


A woman dials a cell phone in her car

WHO study suggests link between cell phones and tumors

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created Oct 27, 2009 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (23) | comments 17

(PhysOrg.com) -- Preliminary results of an International investigation by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest there may be a "significantly increased risk" of some types of brain tumors after use of ...


Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality: Science Fiction or Reality? (w/ Video)

Technology / Hi Tech

created Jul 07, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (17) | comments 7

(PhysOrg.com) -- Computer graphics have come a long way since the birth of Atari Games over 30 years ago. Today, computer graphics seem very real and some day researchers will pull graphics out of your television ...


GSM

GSM system about to be compromised

Technology / Telecom

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (21) | comments 12

(PhysOrg.com) -- Research scientists in California and elsewhere are deliberately setting out to compromise the mobile phone system used by around three billion people. The system uses Global System for Mobile ...


The Asus New Folding E-Book Reader

The Asus New Folding E-Book Reader

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

created Sep 09, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (14) | comments 9

(PhysOrg.com) -- Asus has demonstrated a prototype of an e-book reader it is developing. Unlike its competitors, the device resembles a normal book, having two touch screens that will fold up.


Plastics that convert light to electricity could have a big impact

Plastics that convert light to electricity could have a big impact

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Aug 04, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (12) | comments 5

University of Washington researchers have found a way to measure exactly how much electrical current is carried by tiny bubbles and channels that form inside nanoscale solar cells, paving the way for development ...


Mobile phones on display (A)

Choosing a Low Radiation Cell Phone

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

created Sep 10, 2009 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (12) | comments 10

(PhysOrg.com) -- An Environmental Working Group (EWG) team has released a consumer guide on the radiation levels emitted by over 1,000 cell phones sold in the U.S. The guide is the most comprehensive ever ...


Charge your cell phone using light, courtesy SunCore

Charge your cell phone using light, courtesy SunCore

Technology / Energy

created Oct 26, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (12) | comments 2

SunCore is a little known Irvine, Calif.-based company that's on the cusp of shipping some potentially revolutionary technology.


Textile antenna promises futuristic communications

Textile antenna promises futuristic communications

Technology / Engineering

created Sep 28, 2009 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (10) | comments 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- With a simple press on his shirt insignia, the captain of the Star Ship Enterprise could send and receive messages. Now, thanks to the efforts of a Finnish company, this futuristic communication ...


Leaving mobile phones near to a bee hive was found to have a catastrophic effect

Mobile phone towers a threat to honey bees: study

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Aug 31, 2009 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (10) | comments 9

The electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phone towers and cellphones can pose a threat to honey bees, a study published in India has concluded.


Researchers create cell phones for sign language

Researchers create cell phones for sign language

Technology / Hi Tech

created Dec 02, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (8) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Cornell researchers and colleagues have created cell phones that allow deaf people to communicate in sign language, the same way hearing people use phones to talk.


Bias affects cell phone cancer risk findings

Bias affects cell phone cancer risk findings

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created Oct 15, 2009 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (10) | comments 5

(PhysOrg.com) -- A group of South Korean and American researchers has found studies of possible links between cell phones and brain tumors and other cancers vary in quality, and those suggesting there is little ...


Spacesuits with artificial intelligence may look for life on Mars

Spacesuits with artificial intelligence may look for life on Mars

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created Nov 04, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (7) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronauts may in future be wearing spacesuits equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and digital eyes, turning them into what the researchers call cyborg astrobiologists.


iPhones are musical instruments in new course and ensemble (w/ Video)

iPhones are musical instruments in new course and ensemble (w/ Video)

Technology / Hi Tech

created Dec 01, 2009 | popularity 3.4 / 5 (10) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- iPhones are being used as musical instruments in a new course at the University of Michigan.


Review: Motorola's Droid is a serious smart phone (AP)

Review: Motorola's Droid is a serious smart phone

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

created Nov 04, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (6) | comments 0

(AP) -- Since its debut in 2007, millions of people have gravitated toward Apple's iPhone, wooed by its sleek hardware, simple user interface and abundance of applications.