Most people believe that cell phones are a means of communication that allow people to speak or send text messages to each other. Some people think that they are computing devices that will ultimately replace computers. Still others believe that the cellphone will one day become a navigation device that will be the equivalent of a magnetic compass.

What no one seems to have realised is that a cell phone is also an amazing means of transportation! Yes, a cell phone can take you from one place to another in the blink of an eye—faster than any supersonic aircraft. In fact, if scientists were to spend more time working on this aspect of mobile technology—rather than things like GPS and mobile operating systems—the world would literally be a much smaller place.

If that sounds difficult to believe, then just pay more attention to what people say on their cells. Just the other day, I was travelling in a bus, when the gentleman seated next to me whipped out his cell phone and barked into it: “Please don’t disturb me. I am busy working on my presentation in office.” Of course, as there was no computer or any kind of office equipment in sight, I can only assume that he had managed to transport a part of himself miraculously to the office. And as he did so only when he got the cell phone out, the device must have had some role to play in the entire process.

What’s even more astonishing is that this ability to instantly transport people from one place to another is available across all handsets—you don’t need any accessories or special connectivity options. You don’t even need to invest in a high-end device from a leading brand. For instance, I was once travelling in a cab when the driver stopped to take a call. He nodded once or twice on his basic, entry-level phone and then promptly announced, “I am having a bath. Please call me later.” Astounding! One minute, he had been driving me from the New Delhi railway station to the airport, and the next, he was in the land of water and soap suds. All thanks to an ordinary phone call.

All of which makes me firmly believe that our scientists and technologists are missing out on something big here. Instead of worrying about how to develop sophisticated vehicles to send humans to the moon and Mars, perhaps what they need is to invest in a good cellular network that allows us to access the planets. Once that is done, I don’t think there’s anything stopping a person on a street in Mumbai from announcing, “Can you call me later? Right now, I am busy shopping in the Interplanetary Mall on Mars!”

Mind you, the technology is not perfect. A lady seated next to me in the Delhi Metro had just told someone over her cell phone that she was down with fever (she had started coughing miraculously when the phone rang) and in the hospital when the loudspeaker in the train announced: “The next station is Chandni Chowk!” For some reason, that made her switch off the handset and return to being perfectly healthy again.

But then, these are minor quirks that I am sure can be ironed out. ‘Have cell, will travel’ should be the mantra of the future!