The first cell phone was made in 1973 by Martin Cooper, of Motorola, while the first smartphone was created by IBM in 1992, but the term wasn’t coined until 1995. Much of the public benefits from cell phones, as the device allows for much easier communication over long distances. Furthermore, the companies manufacturing the phones and providing networks for communication benefit due to the immense amount of customers they serve, and the reliance many developed countries have on these communication networks functioning properly.

Mobile phones were initially developed as a portable phone for communication. Having one during their initial release was more of a sign of wealth than a necessary tool for the majority of people. However, the advancements in the technology of smartphones have allowed it to include many more features and let phones as a whole become much more accessible; within the US, 95% of the population has a cellphone now. Modern phones are commonly used for entertainment, fitness monitoring, education, photography, and much more, in addition to their primary purpose of communication. The increase in accessibility of phones has changed their need from being a luxury item to a necessity in the modern economy. Within the US, many jobs require a cell phone as a form of contact between employee and employer, making them a staple in the country.

Cell phones do have different meanings for different groups of people. Some groups, primarily the youth, primarily use smartphones for entertainment: they watch videos on the web, use social media, play games, etc. Older groups tend to have more of a focus on the initial communication aspect than the younger population of phone users. Also, there is a prominent divide in the cell phone by brand. This primarily applies to smartphones, as people view Apple phones differently from Android. Each has a community of users that are dedicated to their brand, and refuse to use the opposing type of phone, and even go as far as to argue with each other online.

One of the commonplaces of cell phones is how it is one of the default forms of communication people expect each other to have. For example, when meeting someone new it is extremely common to exchange cell phone numbers to communicate at a later time. This makes a primary feature of civic life as nearly everyone has one; if we primarily examine US civic culture, 95% of the population has a cell phone, as previously stated. Cell phones frame the civic because it is the standard, most common form of communication used throughout the country, in both professional career fields and social communication.