Can You Hear Me Now?: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''"The widespread adoption of mobile phones must be one of the worst things to ever happen to horror movies, since now ''every'' movie now has to include a bullshit explanation for why they can't use their phone, like losing their battery or their signal. It's become a laughable cliche."''|'''Mathew''', ''[[~~Bad Movie Beatdown (Web Video)|~~Bad Movie Beatdown]]'' on [http://blip.tv/film-brain/bad-movie-beatdown-christmas-special-while-she-was-out-4489242 "While She was Out"]}}

{{quote|''"The widespread adoption of mobile phones must be one of the worst things to ever happen to horror movies, since now ''every'' movie now has to include a bullshit explanation for why they can't use their phone, like losing their battery or their signal. It's become a laughable cliche."''|'''Mathew''', ''[[Bad Movie Beatdown]]'' on [http://blip.tv/film-brain/bad-movie-beatdown-christmas-special-while-she-was-out-4489242 "While She was Out"]}}

With the advent of the computer age, writers still don't quite know how to work [[Cell Phone|Cell Phones]] into a story. It used to be all you had to do for a survival adventure story was plop a bunch of people away from electricity to completely strand them at the mercy of wild animals''/''[[Ax Crazy|serial killers]]''/''zombies -- but cell phones are making that [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH2B9F-GPm0 harder and harder for writers to do believably]. Even in comedy situations, there are some plotlines (such as [[Locked in A Room]]) that only work if the characters don't have cellphones. This means that cellphones are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIZVcRccCx0 lost, broken, stolen, and run out of power far more than they should ]. The range of cellphones are also ridiculously reduced from what they are in real life -- maybe writers are confusing them with two-way radios, or don't realise that most modern phones allow long-distance and international calls. Or, you know, maybe they're deliberately using [[Artistic License]] to artificially [[Drama-Preserving Handicap|preserve the drama.]]

With the advent of the computer age, writers still don't quite know how to work [[Cell Phone|Cell Phones]] into a story. It used to be all you had to do for a survival adventure story was plop a bunch of people away from electricity to completely strand them at the mercy of wild animals''/''[[Ax Crazy|serial killers]]''/''zombies -- but cell phones are making that [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH2B9F-GPm0 harder and harder for writers to do believably]. Even in comedy situations, there are some plotlines (such as [[Locked in a Room]]) that only work if the characters don't have cellphones. This means that cellphones are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIZVcRccCx0 lost, broken, stolen, and run out of power far more than they should ]. The range of cellphones are also ridiculously reduced from what they are in real life -- maybe writers are confusing them with two-way radios, or don't realise that most modern phones allow long-distance and international calls. Or, you know, maybe they're deliberately using [[Artistic License]] to artificially [[Drama-Preserving Handicap|preserve the drama.]]

Note that, during widespread disasters such as the London bombings or 9/11, cell networks often fail, for several reasons: Overload due to everyone trying to reach each other, cell towers being damaged, and civilian phones being locked out to let emergency personnel have all the capacity. However, in many situations where this trope takes place, the problem is far more localized; being lost in the werewolf-infested woods isn't a national emergency.

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== Anime & Manga ==

* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in ''[[~~Mai-HiME (Anime)|~~Mai-HiME]]'', when several characters are stranded in a cave.

* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in ''[[Mai-HiME]]'', when several characters are stranded in a cave.

{{quote| '''Yuuichi:''' Kanzaki-senpai!!! ''(draws out cell phone)'' Cell phones won't work either? Seriously?}}

* ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]: Advent Children'' uses phones as a metaphor for emotional contact. The result of this is that Cloud and Vincent's reluctance to use phones (Cloud only uses his voicemail, and Vincent doesn't own one at all) is a symbol of their inability to integrate themselves into normal life, and so when Cloud refuses to call for back-up it's all right, because it's all a metaphor. Tifa lectures Cloud about how not getting rid of his cell phone shows he still cares about people deep down, and Vincent later announcing his surprise arrival to help the heroes out after all with the line "[[Anvilicious|where can I buy a phone]]?" At the end, Vincent buys a phone and Cloud starts using his again properly.

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** Also, the funniest moment in the entire film: after a long fight, Tifa defeats Loz, and the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' victory music is faintly heard. [[Theme Tune Cameo|It's Loz's]] ''[[Theme Tune Cameo|ringtone]]''!

* Cell phones are only used ''once'' in ''[[Shakugan no Shana]] II'', by an odd pair of villains, with the normal-looking one trying to coordinate activities over it and complaining about the terrible signal, only to find out the the problem was that his partner had turned its phone off. (Well, can't expect a ''centipede with a flaming skull on top'' to have much appreciation for modern technology, anyway.) The good guys use spell charms to communicate, but the one dangerous occasion where everyone thinks to carry one before hand, they all get disabled in their enemy's first attack.

* In ''[[~~Hayate the Combat Butler (Manga)|~~Hayate the Combat Butler]]'', Izumi gets her cell phone [http://www.onemanga.com/Hayate_the_Combat_Butler/137/08/ stolen] in a scene that doesn't seem to have any effect on the overall storyline. She ends up getting lost on a class hiking trip and unable to call anyone because of it, which then leads to her own arc.

* In ''[[Hayate the Combat Butler]]'', Izumi gets her cell phone [http://www.onemanga.com/Hayate_the_Combat_Butler/137/08/ stolen] in a scene that doesn't seem to have any effect on the overall storyline. She ends up getting lost on a class hiking trip and unable to call anyone because of it, which then leads to her own arc.

* It seems ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni]]'' was specifically set in 1983 to avoid this trope. If any of the kids had cell phones (as most all Japanese schoolkids do) then there would have been no way for {{spoiler|the Yamainu to isolate Hinamizawa and sterilize the village without someone from the outside finding out.}}

* It seems ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'' was specifically set in 1983 to avoid this trope. If any of the kids had cell phones (as most all Japanese schoolkids do) then there would have been no way for {{spoiler|the Yamainu to isolate Hinamizawa and sterilize the village without someone from the outside finding out.}}

** However, one arc of ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni]]'' (Yoigoshi) did need to mess around with cellphones, being set a couple of decades into a [[Bad Future]]. It's a pretty typical case of no reception followed by broken cell phone. {{spoiler|It's messed around with a bit, however. The character who had the cell phone only pretended that he didn't have coverage and then broke his own cell phone because he was afraid of someone finding him (He'd gone to Hinamizawa in a suicide attempt that he'd chickened out of)}}.

** However, one arc of ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'' (Yoigoshi) did need to mess around with cellphones, being set a couple of decades into a [[Bad Future]]. It's a pretty typical case of no reception followed by broken cell phone. {{spoiler|It's messed around with a bit, however. The character who had the cell phone only pretended that he didn't have coverage and then broke his own cell phone because he was afraid of someone finding him (He'd gone to Hinamizawa in a suicide attempt that he'd chickened out of)}}.

** Likewise, its [[Spiritual Sequel]], ''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ~~Ni (Visual Novel)|Umineko no Naku Koro Ni~~]]'', is set in 1986 for pretty much the same reason, because getting trapped on the island without communication for their [[Closed Circle]] murder mystery would be impossible with cell phones.

** Likewise, its [[Spiritual Sequel]], ''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]'', is set in 1986 for pretty much the same reason, because getting trapped on the island without communication for their [[Closed Circle]] murder mystery would be impossible with cell phones.

* Subverted in ''[[Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service]]''. {{spoiler|A villain had been hibernating for 20 years to run out the statute of limitations on a crime. When the heroes found out, he locks them in his hibernation vault. The fact that he hadn't considered their cell phones is taken as evidence that he really was 20 years out of touch.}}

* No one in ''[[~~Mariasama ga Miteru (Light Novel)|~~Mariasama ga Miteru]]'' has a cell phone, despite it being set in the present. The author acknowledged this in [[Word of God]], stating this was one of the reasons the show is best viewed as a fantasy story and not as a school drama.

* No one in ''[[Mariasama ga Miteru]]'' has a cell phone, despite it being set in the present. The author acknowledged this in [[Word of God]], stating this was one of the reasons the show is best viewed as a fantasy story and not as a school drama.

* ''[[Sayonara Zetsubou ~~Sensei~~]]'' has a character who [[The Voiceless|only communicates through text messaging on a cell phone.]] When she's intentionally moved to a seat where her cell phone is out of range, she goes berserk.

* ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei]]'' has a character who [[The Voiceless|only communicates through text messaging on a cell phone.]] When she's intentionally moved to a seat where her cell phone is out of range, she goes berserk.

* Cell phones often aren't mentioned in ''[[Ghost in ~~The~~ Shell]]: Stand Alone Complex'' because every member of Section 9 has radio implants (or an always-on Internet connection.) And they're used about like cell phones would be.

* Cell phones often aren't mentioned in ''[[Ghost in the Shell]]: Stand Alone Complex'' because every member of Section 9 has radio implants (or an always-on Internet connection.) And they're used about like cell phones would be.

** However, one episode does show that Section 9 is capable of jamming at least civilian model phones on short notice.

* In ''[[Detective Conan]]'' there are numerous times where a cellphone doesn't work right as the characters found out they were locked in a creepy old house with a psycho killer.

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== [[Fan Works]] ==

* The author of the [[Glee]] [[Slash Fic]] [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6856144/4/Clouds_Between_Their_Knees Clouds Between Their Knees], in which Kurt and Dave Karofsky are lost in the woods after a plane crash, actually asks the reader to [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief|ignore]] the fact that Kurt would probably be able to use his phone to at least find out where they are.

* In ''[[~~The Cries of Haruhi Suzumiya (Fanfic)|~~The Cries of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'', there's no contact between [[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni|Hinamizawa]] and anything outside it. ''Whatsoever.'' Justified, because {{spoiler|Hinamizawa is actually in 1983, and cell phones don't exist yet.}}

* In ''[[The Cries of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'', there's no contact between [[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni|Hinamizawa]] and anything outside it. ''Whatsoever.'' Justified, because {{spoiler|Hinamizawa is actually in 1983, and cell phones don't exist yet.}}

** The first phone call from a truly portable handset (still the size of a brick, though) to the general phone network was made on [[Older Than They Think|April 3, 1973]], by Motorola's Martin Cooper, and by 1979 the world's first mobile network appeared in Japan, though initially only around Tokyo. So it's possible that by 1983 it reached Hinamizawa (the nationwide coverage was achieved in 1984), but it's still unlikely that modern phones (most of which are 2G systems like GSM) would work on this 1G system.

== Films -- Live Action ==

* Inverted beautifully in ''[[Phone Booth (~~Film~~)|Phone Booth]]''. How else could he get help?

* Inverted beautifully in ''[[Phone Booth (film)|Phone Booth]]''. How else could he get help?

* On a press tour, when Robert Zemeckis, the director of ''[[Cast Away]]'', was asked what was in the parcel that Tom Hanks delivers at the end, he said it was a fully charged, activated and ready-to-use satellite phone. (He might have been just a bit tired of answering that question.) Hanks reportedly did a double-take and stared at Zemeckis for a really long time.

** A FedEx [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alSQpinagp0commercial spoofing] the (longer FedEx commercial that was the) film revealed [[We Could Have Avoided All This|the package contained a satellite phone, as well as a GPS locator, fishing rod, water purifier and some seeds]].

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* ''[[Erin Brockovich]]''. Whilst in a late-night diner Erin comes across a rather creepy man who seems to be making overtures, though it turns out he has access to crucial documents that could help the case. When Erin steps out to her car to call her boss for advice she finds her cellphone isn't working, so she makes a rush for a nearby payphone instead.

* The trope explanation above links to a montage illustrating just how [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIZVcRccCx0 fickle, fragile, and generally unreliable] cell phones are on the silver screen, particularly in horror movies.

* Realistically treated in ''[[The Host (~~Film~~)|The Host]]'', where Hyun-seo is trapped in the sewer without a recharger and with terrible reception. She's able to get one call through, which is what starts off much of the plot.

* Realistically treated in ''[[The Host (film)|The Host]]'', where Hyun-seo is trapped in the sewer without a recharger and with terrible reception. She's able to get one call through, which is what starts off much of the plot.

* In ''[[Panic Room]]'', the heroine and her daughter are trapped in the panic room while the house is being robbed. They immediately go for the land line, only to remember that she never hooked it up, thinking it was unnecessary. In a suspenseful trip outside the room, she manages to get a cellphone, only to find there's no reception in the steel-plated walls.

* In ''Shrooms'', a bunch of teenagers go into the wilderness to eat shrooms and do wacky teen stuff. Then people start dying and they want to call the cops. And all of a sudden all their phones are missing. {{spoiler|Turns out the killer hid all of them right before starting the killing spree.}}

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'''Josh:''' Because Papa Nichols threw Eric's against the wall and broke it, and Craig's mother thinks cell phones cause ear sores!<br />

'''Drake:''' Craig ''does'' get a lot of ear sores... }}

* In an episode of ''Terminator: [[The Sarah Connor Chronicles]]'', Sarah tries to track a truck by using John's cell phone as a beacon. This works perfectly until the truck hits a bump, and the phone breaks irreparably after '''[[Death By Falling Over|falling 3 feet]]'''. Apparently, the future leader of the human race decided to buy the [[Made of Plasticine|most fragile phone on the face of the Earth]].

* In an episode of ''Terminator: [[The Sarah Connor Chronicles]]'', Sarah tries to track a truck by using John's cell phone as a beacon. This works perfectly until the truck hits a bump, and the phone breaks irreparably after '''[[Death by Falling Over|falling 3 feet]]'''. Apparently, the future leader of the human race decided to buy the [[Made of Plasticine|most fragile phone on the face of the Earth]].

* On ''[[The X-Files]]'', Mulder and Scully often drive significant distances to speak in person rather than using their cell phones even when phoning would be perfectly safe.

** Of course, living in a [[Crapsack World]] run by a [[Government Conspiracy|shadow government]] with alien technology and no accountability, Mulder really is ''completely'' justified in being paranoid enough to doubt that the person who answers when he calls Scully is, in fact, Scully if he can't see her face. Heck, there are episodes where he'd be advised to doubt it's Scully when he ''can'' see her face. For that matter, is it ''ever'' "perfectly safe" to use a phone to discuss a government conspiracy when elements of the FBI, NSA, and CIA are actively trying to monitor and/or block your investigation?

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** Also, the Island '' {{spoiler|travels through time}}'', which can't be good for reception.

* An episode of ''[[The Dead Zone]]'' had the main character lost in the woods somewhere; he tried calling for help on his cell phone, but its [[Viewer-Friendly Interface|display showed]] "NO SIGNAL".

* [[Get Smart ~~(TV)~~|Maxwell Smart]] and the wireless rotary-dial telephone concealed in the sole of a shoe is often cast as an unreliable weakest link; for instance, it would work quite well until Max steps into a puddle.

* [[Get Smart|Maxwell Smart]] and the wireless rotary-dial telephone concealed in the sole of a shoe is often cast as an unreliable weakest link; for instance, it would work quite well until Max steps into a puddle.

* LexCorp tracks down the Justice League by using their cell phones as GPS locators in ''[[Smallville]]''. Apparently they all carry their phones around all the time, which in Aquaman's case, doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

* [[~~Angel (TV)|~~Angel]] is really bad at using phones, and there were several occasions in the series where he had let the charge run down, just forgot he had one with him, or couldn't [[For Inconvenience Press One|work out the intercom]].

* [[Angel]] is really bad at using phones, and there were several occasions in the series where he had let the charge run down, just forgot he had one with him, or couldn't [[For Inconvenience Press One|work out the intercom]].

{{quote| '''Angel:''' These things were definitely cooked up by a bored warlock.}}

* A very silly plotline on ''[[Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip]]'' called for Danny and Jordan to get locked on the studio's roof so that they'd be forced to discuss their relationship. [[Aaron Sorkin]] does find it within himself to pay lip service to the idea that they could just call someone to unlock the door... by having them wander around holding their phones aloft, complaining that they can't get a signal. On a roof. In the middle of L.A. For no reason.

* ''[[~~Babylon Five|~~Babylon 5]]'': In one episode a character loses his communicator. He finds another person's communicator, but can't use it to call for help, because the communicator will only work for its owner. Meanwhile, back in the 21st century, all mobile phones can be used to call the emergency number, even without SIM cards.

* ''[[Babylon 5]]'': In one episode a character loses his communicator. He finds another person's communicator, but can't use it to call for help, because the communicator will only work for its owner. Meanwhile, back in the 21st century, all mobile phones can be used to call the emergency number, even without SIM cards.

* ''[[Burn Notice]]'' loves this, though it's good about [[Justified Trope|justifying]] it; anyone meant to be incommunicado will have their cell phone jammed, taken away, or secretly sabotaged. The villains are usually portrayed as pretty [[Genre Savvy]] about this as well, further justifying the trope.

* In the ''[[~~NCIS (TV)|~~NCIS]]'' episode "Boxed In", Tony and Ziva are trapped in a shipping container and try desperately to get signal on their cell phone - [[Justified Trope|justified]] here, as the container would act as a Faraday Cage.

* In the ''[[NCIS]]'' episode "Boxed In", Tony and Ziva are trapped in a shipping container and try desperately to get signal on their cell phone - [[Justified Trope|justified]] here, as the container would act as a Faraday Cage.

* Once the murders start in ''[[Harpers Island|Harper's Island]]'', both the [[Cut Phone Lines|landlines]] and cell phones all stop working. In the associated web series ''Harper's Globe'', we find that the internet isn't working properly either.

* An episode of ''[[~~Community (TV)|~~Community]]'' had the group trapped in an 'spacecraft simulator' which was actually an old RV fully covered in metal. They are sealed in, the RV is being towed and they can't get cellphone reception from inside (Faraday Cage?). However, there is a short wave radio connected to an outside antenna so they can communicate with 'mission control' once they get it working.

* An episode of ''[[Community]]'' had the group trapped in an 'spacecraft simulator' which was actually an old RV fully covered in metal. They are sealed in, the RV is being towed and they can't get cellphone reception from inside (Faraday Cage?). However, there is a short wave radio connected to an outside antenna so they can communicate with 'mission control' once they get it working.

* In ''[[Smallville]],'' Lois' phone runs out of batteries when something nasty is going down and she needs to make a call. She even says "Really?!" when it happens, as if disbelieving that such a cliche could happen to her.

* [[Invoked Trope|Invoked]] in ''[[Psych]]''. [[Complete Monster|Mr. Yang]] leaves a cell phone for Shawn as a clue. Shawn promptly throws it into a river {{spoiler|to change the rules of Mr. Yang's game.}}

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== Literature ==

* This concept is explored [http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2006/10/6norvig.html here]; basically, [[Romeo and Juliet]] would have had a much happier ending if the two of them had had cell phones.

* In the ''[[Twilight (~~Literature~~)|Twilight]]'' book ''New Moon'' Edward conveniently smashes his phone in grief because he thinks Bella is dead, thus enabling a dramatic flight to Italy solely to demonstrate that she is, in fact, still alive.

* In the ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]'' book ''New Moon'' Edward conveniently smashes his phone in grief because he thinks Bella is dead, thus enabling a dramatic flight to Italy solely to demonstrate that she is, in fact, still alive.

* [[Ciaphas Cain]], '''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!''', deals with this problem on a regular basis. However, it's justified: due to his origin <ref>A hive world, aka an extremely overcrowded planet</ref> he is very competent at orientation in closed spaces and thus constantly gets assigned to missions that deal with such spaces. Such as tunnels or caves. Which are, you know, underground, so it's hard to keep contact. In ''For the Emperor'', for example, it was a major plot point, since he managed to find out the true reason behind the conflict and must find his way to the surface as soon as possible to prevent a large-scale war, since he can't just tell that over the radio.

* In ''[[~~Good Omens (Literature)|~~Good Omens]]'', Crowley and two Dukes of Hell describe what they have done to aid the spread of evil that day. One Duke corrupted a politician. The other tempted a priest. Crowley disabled every cell tower in Central London for 45 minutes... during lunch hour.

* In ''[[Good Omens]]'', Crowley and two Dukes of Hell describe what they have done to aid the spread of evil that day. One Duke corrupted a politician. The other tempted a priest. Crowley disabled every cell tower in Central London for 45 minutes... during lunch hour.

** The other demons don't understand. Crowley figures that spreading low-level frustration to thousands of people on a regular basis is much more efficient in the corruption of souls than the one-on-one approach -- a thousand grouchy people spread a lot more misery around than one awful person.

* Justified example in ''[[The Dresden Files]]'': magic [[Walking Techbane|screws up advanced technology like computers and cell phones]], thus ruining cell phone reception whenever a wizard is around. The effect worsens exponentially when when a wizard (or other magic user) is actively casting magic, and that's not even taking into account "hexing", which is a direct magical attack with the intent of destroying technology. Dresden himself compares cell phones to a canary in a coal mine or "[[Red Shirt|those guys in the red shirts on Star Trek]]" because they die the instant trouble hits.

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== Video Games ==

* Cell phones in ''[[~~The World Ends With You (Video Game)|~~The World Ends With You]]'' have no reception. {{spoiler|The dead can't talk to the living, after all.}} They can receive messages from the Reapers, and your in-game menu is supposedly the cellphone menu, but other than that they're powerless. When Joshua actually ''talks'' to someone on his, Neku instantly turns suspicious. ({{spoiler|Joshua's talking to Hanekoma.}})

* Cell phones in ''[[The World Ends With You]]'' have no reception. {{spoiler|The dead can't talk to the living, after all.}} They can receive messages from the Reapers, and your in-game menu is supposedly the cellphone menu, but other than that they're powerless. When Joshua actually ''talks'' to someone on his, Neku instantly turns suspicious. ({{spoiler|Joshua's talking to Hanekoma.}})

* When the blackout hits in ''[[~~Devil Survivor (Video Game)|~~Devil Survivor]]'', cell service goes down as well, which the characters note as odd, because the towers shouldn't be affected ("But the phone centers have their own backup power, right? This doesn't make sense!"). Later in the game, the lack of cell service is alluded to, when someone claims to have called someone outside the lockdown; which isn't possible, of course.

* When the blackout hits in ''[[Devil Survivor]]'', cell service goes down as well, which the characters note as odd, because the towers shouldn't be affected ("But the phone centers have their own backup power, right? This doesn't make sense!"). Later in the game, the lack of cell service is alluded to, when someone claims to have called someone outside the lockdown; which isn't possible, of course.

** And in the sequel, JP's are in control of the only still-working phone network, eventually allowing the protagonists to communicate with each other once they join.But when trying to save people from their Death Clip fate, there is always one reason or another to prevent them from contacting each other:

*** When saving Daichi, the hero and Io haven't joined JP's yet.

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== Web Comics ==

* Justified in the ''[[~~Sluggy Freelance (Webcomic)|~~Sluggy Freelance]]'' story "That Which Redeems", thanks to the demons having a very poor understanding of cell phone technology.

* Justified in the ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' story "That Which Redeems", thanks to the demons having a very poor understanding of cell phone technology.

{{quote| '''Tryka:''' What's it roaming for? Shouldn't it stay here?<br />

'''Reakk:''' ''Bad phone!'' }}

** Justified again in the "bROKEN" story, when the Fate Spider's Apprentice intentionally makes Torg forget to charge his cell phone, forcing him to leave it off when communication would have been vitally important.

* In ''[[~~El Goonish Shive (Webcomic)|~~El Goonish Shive]]'', Nanase is unable to call for help during a wizard attack on a school in [http://egscomics.com/?date=2009-06-06 this strip.] As for why, [[A Wizard Did It]], literally

* In ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'', Nanase is unable to call for help during a wizard attack on a school in [http://egscomics.com/?date=2009-06-06 this strip.] As for why, [[A Wizard Did It]], literally

* In ''[[Silent Hill Promise|Silent Hill: Promise]]'', Vanessa's cell phone hasn't worked correctly yet.

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* Played with in a ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' episode where Danny and his mother gets stranded in the middle of a forest. Off ALL the techno gizmo she has with her, the only thing she doesn't have: a cellphone -- because you can't fight ghosts with a cellphone, ''silly''. Danny doesn't have his cellphone with him either (for no apparent reason), so he and his mother have to survive alone against the big, spooky forest (and Vlad).

** Danny obviously forgot his phone. [[Running Gag|Like he forgot his wallet in ''Masters of All Time'', and that ring from ''Flirting With Disaster''.]]

* In ''[[~~Code Lyoko (Animation)|~~Code Lyoko]]'', the main characters all have cell phones, and never have any problem with reception or anything. Usually their phones would be broken while fighting on Earth. (Strangely, they always have a new cell phone by the next episode, even if no one pressed the reset button. They never seem to complain about having to buy new cell phones so frequently, though...)

* In ''[[Code Lyoko]]'', the main characters all have cell phones, and never have any problem with reception or anything. Usually their phones would be broken while fighting on Earth. (Strangely, they always have a new cell phone by the next episode, even if no one pressed the reset button. They never seem to complain about having to buy new cell phones so frequently, though...)

* Averted in a ''[[Daria]]'' episode, "The Teachings of Don Jake". Daria and her family nearly meet their demises in the middle of the forest on a camping trip. Jake, Helen and Quinn trust Jake's excellent woodsman skills and eat some berries from a bush, causing them all to go [[Hilarity Ensues|humorously insane]]. Daria, the only sane one, just as she is beginning to panic, relied "on mother's hypocrisy to see them through the crisis", when she hears her mother's cell phone go off in the backpack. Her parents' plan for the weekend was to be cut off completely from the outside world- Helen cheated.

* An episode of ''[[Jimmy Two-Shoes]]'' had Lucius getting swallowed by a sea creature. While in its mouth he attempts to use his cell phone, to no avail.

* The [[Freaky Friday Flip]] of ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'' had Flash (in Lex's body) attempting to contact the rest of the League through a cell phone, only to find that there's no service.

* Parodied in ''[[Dan Vs]]'' "Technology." Chris attempts to call for help after crashing in the woods, only for his cell phone to explode in his hand as he dials.

* Parodied in ''[[Dan Vs.]]'' "Technology." Chris attempts to call for help after crashing in the woods, only for his cell phone to explode in his hand as he dials.

* In ''[[What's New Scooby Doo]]'' episode "There's no Business Like Snow Business", a journalist was having trouble with her cell phone while ranting about audience, which made the gang regard her as a suspect while all Fred pointed out was that he thought cell phones worked well in that area. At first, it seemed he was [[Completely Missing the Point]], but it turned out to be a [[Chekhov's Gun]], as the [[Monster of the Week]] was a machine radio-controlled by the [[Villain of the Week]], whose radio signs were causing interference on the cell phones.

* In ''[[Batman: The Animated Series ~~(Animation)~~|Batman the Animated Series]]'', when Batman wants to call the mayor and warn him of a plot, he is told there is no phone, and Bat's won't work either - the host is a scientist who chose a dead zone for his experiments so as not to be disturbed.

* In ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]'', when Batman wants to call the mayor and warn him of a plot, he is told there is no phone, and Bat's won't work either - the host is a scientist who chose a dead zone for his experiments so as not to be disturbed.

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** The Pixies of ''[[The Fairly Odd Parents]]'' also use cell phones to make magic.

* ''[[Vision of Escaflowne]]'' has a pager (remember those?) that works on an ''invisible moon'' orbiting the Earth. This is debatably justified via [[Your Mind Makes It Real]] (or that could just be [[Fan Wank]]), but this still resulted in a lot of jokes.

* In the ''[[~~To Love Ru (Manga)|~~To Love Ru]]'' anime, Lala uses what looks like a cellphone to summon various useful items from somewhere, even items like a tree-sized stylized octopus robot that sucks up the Mooks that have been chasing her.

* In the ''[[To Love Ru]]'' anime, Lala uses what looks like a cellphone to summon various useful items from somewhere, even items like a tree-sized stylized octopus robot that sucks up the Mooks that have been chasing her.

** The phone also appears in the manga, with the same uses. Her two sisters also have cell phones they can use to summon plants and animals.

* ''[[Voices of a Distant Star]]'' is all about a mecha pilot and her boyfriend keeping in touch via SMS messages, which take longer and longer to reach the farther from Earth she travels. She eventually travels outside our solar system, and is still able to send the messages. That's some pretty amazing reception.

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== Fan Works ==

* ''[[~~Turnabout Storm (Fanfic)|~~Turnabout Storm]]'': [[Ace Attorney ~~(Visual Novel)~~|Phoenix]] recieves a cellphone call from a "concerned friend" in the middle of his investigation. The kicker? He's in the middle of [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic ~~(Animation)~~|Equestria]], a complete other world, which doesn't have cellphones of any kind, let alone cell towers. If this was accomplished with magic or something else entirely is unknown.

* ''[[Turnabout Storm]]'': [[Ace Attorney|Phoenix]] recieves a cellphone call from a "concerned friend" in the middle of his investigation. The kicker? He's in the middle of [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|Equestria]], a complete other world, which doesn't have cellphones of any kind, let alone cell towers. If this was accomplished with magic or something else entirely is unknown.

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== Films -- Live Action ==

* In the 2006 remake of ''[[~~Casino Royale (Film)|~~Casino Royale]]'', Bond is issued a super-awesome [[Product Placement|Sony]] [[Stuck On Band-Aid Brand|Ericsson]] phone that could make calls from the most isolated places in the world, browse the Internet like it was plugged in with a 1024 kbps data link, with a GPS map that could follow tracker bugs. It follows in the tradition of Bond's obscenely advanced gadgets.

* In the 2006 remake of ''[[Casino Royale]]'', Bond is issued a super-awesome [[Product Placement|Sony]] [[Stuck on Band-Aid Brand|Ericsson]] phone that could make calls from the most isolated places in the world, browse the Internet like it was plugged in with a 1024 kbps data link, with a GPS map that could follow tracker bugs. It follows in the tradition of Bond's obscenely advanced gadgets.

** In the sequel ''[[~~Quantum of Solace (Film)|~~Quantum of Solace]]'', the phone is able to transmit tons of high-res, multi-angle headshots from the Austrian Opera theatre to London MI:5 almost instantaneously.

** In the sequel ''[[Quantum of Solace]]'', the phone is able to transmit tons of high-res, multi-angle headshots from the Austrian Opera theatre to London MI:5 almost instantaneously.

* ''[[Jurassic Park III]]'' has a satellite phone working perfectly quite some time after being eaten by a dino.

** ''The Lost World'' novel has sat phones that are explicitly extra-durable and specifically made for the island.

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* ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' has {{spoiler|sonar emitting phones}}.

** It also has a cell phone that {{spoiler|works inside a guy. Inside a prison cell. It arms a bomb. Boom.}}

* The 2008 ''[[Iron Man (~~Film~~)|Iron Man]]'' movie has the title's hero's cell wired through his armor. Maybe the armor is Bluetooth compatible.

* The 2008 ''[[Iron Man (film)|Iron Man]]'' movie has the title's hero's cell wired through his armor. Maybe the armor is Bluetooth compatible.

** Then there's the video chat on the non-armor-based cell phone in the middle of Afghanistan at the start of the movie.

** In the sequel, the phone gets an upgrade to be able to instantaneously access projection screens. It also appears to be as big and transparent as a piece of plexiglass.

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* In ''Three Kings'', one character manages to make a phone call to his wife, on a cell phone, in the middle of Iraq just after the First Gulf War, from ''inside a fortified bunker''.

* In the 2009 film ''Moon'', Sam is able to make video cell-phone calls from the Moon to Earth {{spoiler|once he gets past the signal jammers, at least}}

* Empire Magazine's review of ''[[~~Twenty Twelve|~~2012]]'' includes this response to Emmerich's "[[Did Not Do the Research|wilfully ignoring science]] [[Rule of Drama|to keep the plot boiling]]": "For future reference, sudden continental drift probably will affect your cellphone reception." And even if it doesn't, good luck getting through when ''literally the whole world'' is trying to call someone.

* Empire Magazine's review of ''[[2012]]'' includes this response to Emmerich's "[[Did Not Do the Research|wilfully ignoring science]] [[Rule of Drama|to keep the plot boiling]]": "For future reference, sudden continental drift probably will affect your cellphone reception." And even if it doesn't, good luck getting through when ''literally the whole world'' is trying to call someone.

* During the finale of the 4th season of ''[[Lost]]'' {{spoiler|Keamy is wearing a heart rate monitor set to transmit a signal to detonate C4 back on his ship should he die. When he dies far undrground at the Orchid station, somehow the transmitter is capable of transmitting through dozens of feet of earth and out to sea to trigger the detonator.}}

== Literature ==

* [[~~Artemis Fowl (Literature)|~~Artemis Fowl]] once received a text message in the Arctic. Sent from a laptop ''inside the Earth''. One could speculate that the fairies have set up underground Internet and cell phone service providers... but it was Artemis' own laptop, so it probably ran on a plain old human-run ISP. Then again, it was [[Gadgeteer Genius]] Foaly at the keyboard.

* [[Artemis Fowl]] once received a text message in the Arctic. Sent from a laptop ''inside the Earth''. One could speculate that the fairies have set up underground Internet and cell phone service providers... but it was Artemis' own laptop, so it probably ran on a plain old human-run ISP. Then again, it was [[Gadgeteer Genius]] Foaly at the keyboard.

** Artemis himself notes that it should have been impossible for him to receive the message. The story adheres more to actual physics when, asked if they can send a reply, Artemis nonchalantly quips, "Certainly. Just give me six months, some specialized equipment and [[American Customary Measurements|three miles]] of steel girder." Foaly ''himself'' mentions how hard it was to patch into the human networks.

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== Live Action TV ==

* In one episode of ''[[The X-Files]]'', Mulder makes a cell phone call, while stranded in the middle of a desert inside a boxcar buried underground.

* ''[[~~Twenty Four|~~24]]'s'' cell phones can do anything. ''Anything''.

* ''[[24]]'s'' cell phones can do anything. ''Anything''.

** Subverted for humor in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLH_QyPTYM parody video] that claimed to be the "lost pilot" of ''24'' from 1994:

{{quote| '''Jack:''' Chloe, can you send the schematic to my cell phone?<br />

'''Chloe:''' ... No. }}

* In ''[[~~Charmed (TV)|~~Charmed]]'', cellphones work in the underworld, which is a different dimension. Good reception.

* In ''[[Charmed]]'', cellphones work in the underworld, which is a different dimension. Good reception.

* ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]'' had one character receiving a phone call on an expedition somewhere in the arctic. We can safely suspend our belief to include it, considering that at the time the expedition, comprised of two zoo-keepers, was trying to defrost the frozen last words of an explorer killed by Jack Frost.

* Some [[Super Sentai]] (and, by extension, ''[[Power Rangers]]'') series have had cell phones as the [[Transformation Trinket]], and it seems handheld devices with keypads are being used instead of the more wristwatch-like devices of the past more and more. (If you wanna get technical, we've explicitly had phones in ''[[Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger|Gaoranger]]''/''[[Power Rangers Wild Force|Wild Force]]'' and ''[[Mahou Sentai Magiranger|Magiranger]]''/''[[Power Rangers Mystic Force|Mystic Force]]'' and phone-like devices in ''[[Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger|Dekaranger]]''/''[[Power Rangers SPD|SPD]]'', ''[[Go Go Sentai Boukenger|Boukenger]]''/''[[Power Rangers Operation Overdrive|Operation Overdrive]]'' and ''[[Engine Sentai Go-onger|Go-onger]]''/''[[Power Rangers RPM|RPM]]'')

** Note that on ''Go-onger''/''RPM'', "an Engine Cell" is [[I Am Not Shazam|not the morpher]], it's the small card-thingy that goes ''in'' the morpher and half of the ''other'' gadgets the team uses.

* ''[[Kamen Rider Faiz]]'' also has cell phones as [[Transformation Trinket|Transformation Trinkets]], but with the additional function of [[Energy Weapons|energy guns]].

* Naturally, the communicators in ''[[Star Trek ~~the~~ Original Series]]'' came before cell phones, but they look much like them (having arguably inspired their modern look), and were often subject to both ends of this trope.

* Naturally, the communicators in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' came before cell phones, but they look much like them (having arguably inspired their modern look), and were often subject to both ends of this trope.

* The writers of ''[[~~Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)|~~Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' purposefully avoided using cell phones, as it would ruin too many of the plots. For the first episode of season 7, they broke down and let Buffy get herself and Dawn cell phones, which work ''in the school basement'' (Dawn at least makes an enthusiastic comment). It seems Sunnydale [[Word of God|finally got a tower]] ([[Retcon|which nobody complained about before]]). The phones are rarely seen again.

* The writers of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' purposefully avoided using cell phones, as it would ruin too many of the plots. For the first episode of season 7, they broke down and let Buffy get herself and Dawn cell phones, which work ''in the school basement'' (Dawn at least makes an enthusiastic comment). It seems Sunnydale [[Word of God|finally got a tower]] ([[Retcon|which nobody complained about before]]). The phones are rarely seen again.

** The school basement ''is'' clearly established as a place where the laws of reality [[A Wizard Did It|don't quite work right]].

** Cordelia had a cell phone in the very first episode (which we never saw again), and Buffy had a pager in one other first season episode.

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* The students, crew, and passengers about the ''S.S. Tipton'' in ''[[The Suite Life of Zack and Cody|The Suite Life on Deck]]'' all seem to have phones that get reception anywhere in the world (including remote locations in developing countries and at sea), are standard models that aren't at all bulky or complex (as one would expect from a satellite phone with such capabilities), and never incur any sort of roaming charges.

* ''[[Doctor Who]]'' occasionally used the Sonic Screwdriver or other alien tech to give a phone Universal Roaming, allowing them to make a call from anywhere, anywhen to anywhere, anywhen. Without any special dialling code or anything. Possibly justified if they were modified to relay from the TARDIS, which is a sentient, telepathic time machine... in a phone box. Only interference either from [[Satan]] or the nearby black hole in "The Impossible Planet" was able to put it out of range.

* Any cell phone can be used to summon [[The Devil]] in [[~~Reaper (TV)|~~Reaper]], provided that you know his personal cell number. [[Justified]] though, as a magic ritual is involved in this procedure. The phone is merely the conduit.

* Any cell phone can be used to summon [[The Devil]] in [[Reaper]], provided that you know his personal cell number. [[Justified]] though, as a magic ritual is involved in this procedure. The phone is merely the conduit.

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*** ''Before Crisis,'' the other ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' prequel which seems to be mired somewhere between [[No Export for You]] and [[Development Hell]] as far as an international release is concerned, lets you use your own cellphone to make materia in the game via snapping pictures. The dominant color determines the element and grade of the materia - for example, a majority yellow picture produces Thunder materia.

* ''[[City of Heroes]]'' cuts both ways. On the one hand, you can get a signal in the sewers, or [[Another Dimension|alternate dimensions]], or ancient Rome (this one's [[Handwaved]] as being [[A Wizard Did It|something the Midnight Squad set up]]). Inside a mission - even one in an outside area of Paragon City - your phone is useless. And there are plenty of times where you have to go talk to someone whose phone number you have, but nooooo, you have to go see them in person - which is sometimes justified as needing to deliver something to them or the person being paranoid and wanting to meet face to face, sometimes not. Conversely, sometimes a [[McGuffin]] is given to you over your cellphone.

* In ''[[~~Super Paper Mario (Video Game)|~~Super Paper Mario]]'', the Queen of the Underworld makes a phone call to the King of Mario's-equivalent-to-Heaven. That's not a normal phone whichever way you look at it.

* In ''[[Super Paper Mario]]'', the Queen of the Underworld makes a phone call to the King of Mario's-equivalent-to-Heaven. That's not a normal phone whichever way you look at it.

* ''[[~~Scarface the World Is Yours (Video Game)|~~Scarface the World Is Yours]]''. Having one of the very first sattelite phones ever, stolen from a rival crimelord, is vital to the plot and many of the gameplay mechanics. It always works, from inside any building to remote island dirt roads. Possibly handwaved in that if you're a millionaire drug kingpin, you can afford the best.

* ''[[Scarface the World Is Yours]]''. Having one of the very first sattelite phones ever, stolen from a rival crimelord, is vital to the plot and many of the gameplay mechanics. It always works, from inside any building to remote island dirt roads. Possibly handwaved in that if you're a millionaire drug kingpin, you can afford the best.

* In [[Pokémon Gold and Silver ~~(Video Game)~~|Pokemon Heartgold and Soulsilver]], the Pokegear's phone can receive or make calls anywhere. Including deep inside Mount Silver, an area so remote that there are only three people in it and the route leading to it, one of whom is the nurse in the Pokemon Center.

* In [[Pokémon Gold and Silver|Pokemon Heartgold and Soulsilver]], the Pokegear's phone can receive or make calls anywhere. Including deep inside Mount Silver, an area so remote that there are only three people in it and the route leading to it, one of whom is the nurse in the Pokemon Center.

** God forbid you enter a battle, conversatio or even a building while your phone is ringing though. Your signal will be instantly cut. It's also seems to cut if you look in your bag, at your Pokemon or Pokedex or save your game.

== Web Comics ==

* ''[[~~The Adventures of Dr. McNinja (Webcomic)|~~The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'' has featured the doctor getting phone reception ''while traveling through space''. He didn't lose his connection until he started atmospheric re-entry.

* ''[[The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'' has featured the doctor getting phone reception ''while traveling through space''. He didn't lose his connection until he started atmospheric re-entry.

** Made <s>worse</s> [[Rule of Cool|better]] (as commented by the author in alt text) that the other end of the call was in a submarine.

* ''[[The Last Days of Foxhound]]'': [http://gigaville.com/comic.php?id=443 "I oversee military technology development for the United States. I can get cellphone reception on a submarine."]

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** In "Candace Disconnected", Candace's new cell phone is broken and her mother wouldn't buy her a new one because she's already lost so many of them. The last one bought couldn't be used for anything other than making and receiving calls. Phineas and Ferb then built one that could even be used as a teleporting device.

* Double subverted in ''[[Transformers Prime]].'' When the kids are stranded in another dimension, they try using a cell phone to call for help, and while the call reaches the Autobots, there's too much interference for it to be legible. They try to get around this problem by sending a text message, which works.

* The candlestick phone [[Dastardly and Muttley In Their Flying Machines|Dick Dastardly]] used to communicate with the General had to be cellular. It appeared in the air sans landline and even as far as Arabia.

* The candlestick phone [[Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines|Dick Dastardly]] used to communicate with the General had to be cellular. It appeared in the air sans landline and even as far as Arabia.

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== Film ==

* The movie ''[[Cellular]]'' is all about the advantages and limitations of a cell phone as it is used to track down a hostage victim.

* In ''[[~~Dead Snow (Film)|~~Dead Snow]]'', the characters are stuck high in the mountains in Norway, and when they DO manage to get reception, the emergency dispatcher thinks they're kidding.

* In ''[[Dead Snow]]'', the characters are stuck high in the mountains in Norway, and when they DO manage to get reception, the emergency dispatcher thinks they're kidding.

* In ''The Hills Run Red''(2009), not only does the cell phone work, but one of the characters mentions that it gets better reception than in the city (makes sense since there are no metal buildings). This unfortunately ends up backfiring when the villain gets a hold of a cell phone and uses it to call one of the other characters.

* In ''[[Buried]]'', Ryan Reynolds character manages to make calls to the USA with a mobile phone, while [[Buried Alive|buried in a wooden coffin]]. In Iraq! He only loses one or two calls to a bad signal, and the battery manages to last the entirety of the film. Of course, since the action never leaves the coffin, he has to be able to call people, otherwise we'd be treated to an hour and half of him gibbering to himself in a pine box.