[ELI5] If smartphones can be used for long range communication, then why can’t it be used to communicate like walkie-talkies?

Question

[ELI5] If smartphones can be used for long range communication, then why can’t it be used to communicate like walkie-talkies?

In: 10

Answer 1

Tiny phones are only able to communicate over great distances if the *other* end is super duper powerful, like a cell tower.

It’s like a little kid and his parent rowing a boat. Only works because one half does most of the work.