In telephony, a generic term for all wireless phones, regardless of the technology they use; the term derives from cellular base stations that receive and transmit calls. Both cellular and PCS phones use cellular technology. Note: The strategically placed rf base stations have limited, usually overlapping coverage areas (cells) that serve to connect mobile, usually small handheld radio tranceivers (cellular mobile telephones (called "cell phones") to the public switched telephone network. When necessary, based on the rf signal strength from a given moving cell phone, calls in progress may be automatically switched via landlines from one cell to another, to maintain the connection.