Reinventing the Telephone: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
{{quote|'''Negi:''' I can't hear Asuna-san's voice with [[Telepathy|this]]?
'''Chamo:''' Yeah, that's how it is.
'''Negi:''' Wouldn't a mobile phone be better then?
''(Negi receives a cell phone call from Asuna that Konoka has been kidnapped.)''
'''Chamo:''' ''(exasperated)'' What kind of mage uses a cell phone?|'''''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'''''}}
The Army of Evil approaches... you need to gather your allies in a hurry!
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...or you could just text their cell phones.
Basically, when somebody in a show (set in the 'present day' or even [[Twenty Minutes Into the Future]]) uses a [[Rule of Cool|pointlessly cool]] method of communication, which is frequently [[Cool but Impractical|lot less practical]] than the ordinary, everyday type. Arguably, telepathic communication ''would'' be better, depending on exactly how many [[Pstandard Psychic Pstance|strange hand gestures]] you have to make, whether it allows for [[Poke in the Third Eye|protection from "brain tapping"]], and whether it can inflict [[Psychic Nosebleed
Frequently [[Lampshaded]] either by somebody pointing out that it would be easier to just phone 'em, or by somebody (Often a [[Genre Savvy]] individual) suggesting this kind of communication, only for the person to respond "Well, yeah, I ''could'' do that, but it would be faster to just send him an e-mail..."
Related to [[We Have the Keys]]. If you're looking for something a little more convenient, try [[Comm Links]]. Works written about the future before the widespread use of cell phones may get a pass but might qualify for [[Zeerust]].
{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
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** [[Justified Trope|Justified]] by the backwardness of wizard society, a rather large portion of which doesn't seem ''aware'' of the technological advances the [[Muggles]] have made over the past few centuries. They have adapted some Muggle technology, but only after putting their own twists on it. The general Wizarding population is apparently so unaware of Muggle technology that their premier newspaper, the Daily Prophet, feels obliged to explain to its readers what ''firearms'' are, in the expectation that a significant number of wizards have never even ''heard'' of them! In general, wizards actually kind of suck at anything that can't be achieved solely by magic, when compared to muggles.
** Also, the use of said extremely difficult spell is justified because it is the only method that can't be intercepted and has only been taught in its speaking form to members of the Order of the Phoenix.
** Also, the owl will '''always''' find the recipient, even if said recipient is halfway around the world and is actively in hiding
* Inverted in [[Fate/Zero]]. Mages tend to scorn and ignore technology because they already have all this stuff using magic. Taken advantage of by [[Combat Pragmatist]] Kiritsugu, who realizes that cameras are immune to mind-affecting illusion spells and guns don't emit [[Mana]], among other things.
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== Live Action TV ==
* [[Home Improvement (TV series)|Tim Taylor]] once got to try out spy listening equipment with Wilson, and commented that someone should've come up with this conversation-at-a-distance stuff years ago. Wilson pointed out that they ''did'' - it's called the telephone.
* ''[[Warehouse 13]]'' is made of this trope, but more specifically does this with some steampunk-ish video phones, invented by Philo Farnsworth. There's a limited number of them, but they're unhackable and can only lose signal due to massive electrical interference. It's also shown that Pete and Myka have regular cell phones for communicating with each-other in the field. There's also a pneumatic-tube system that sends a brass voice recorder between different sections of the Warehouse.
* ''[[Power Rangers]]'' surprisingly justifies the fact that morphers have communication equipment as often as it plays the trope straight. The early seasons were in the 90's, when not everybody had cell phones yet. Later seasons often have morphers with built-in cell phones.
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== Webcomics ==
* Example from the webcomic ''[[Yosh!]]'': [http://www.yoshcomic.com/latest.php?i=20070813\]{{Dead link}}
* Also used in ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'', with Nanase's '[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-05-02 Fairy Form]': It got lampshaded when it was first used, complete with a "
** Justified for Nanase. The more she uses her powers, the faster she levels up, and learns new powers that might be more useful. Also, the spell provides [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-01-20 more] [http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2007-03-31 functionality].
* In ''[[Shades]]'', the superheroes used to have a fancy communications network, since dismantled. Fortunately by the time they need it again cell phones are around.
* Defied in ''[[Narbonic]]'' [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/narbonic_plus/series.php?view=archive&chapter=39373&name=narbonic_plus#strip3 here].
** And again [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/narbonic_plus/series.php?view=archive&chapter=41717#strip6 here]
* [http://www.agirlandherfed.com/comic/?602 Preparing for battle] in ''[[A Girl and Her Fed]]''
== Western Animation ==
* In ''[[The Tick (animation)]]'' episode "The Tick vs. Arthur's Bank Account," the Tick presents the mayor a Tick signal to flash onto a conveniently passing cloudbank when he is needed. The mayor promptly points out, "We have your phone number." The Tick's reply: "Also useful."
** Of course, the Tick parodied [[Batman]]'s [[Bat Signal]], which is one of the earlier versions of the trope. At least back then there weren't any cell phones, but regular
** The Bat-Phone only existed in [[Batman (TV series)|the 60s TV series]]; in less ludicrous versions, the idea of a dedicated phone line between the police station and Batman's ''secret headquarters'' was seen as a bad idea. The Batphone made its first comics appearance in 2003, as an encrypted cellphone.
* In one episode of ''[[Duckman]]'', a smoke signal comes in for Cornfed, who has just been fired. When Duckman screams out the window that Cornfed no longer works there, the Indian who sent the signal decides to call him at home... with his cell phone.
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[[Category:Applied Phlebotinum]]
[[Category:Phone Tropes]]
[[Category:
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