A typical mobile phone is basically an advanced two-way radio. It works by turning sound or data into electrical signals, which are sent out as radio waves (a type of electromagnetic wave) to the nearest cell tower. The cell towers then transmit these signals to the intended recipient's mobile phone, which converts the radio waves back into sound or data. Although mobile phones themselves use the microwave frequency band (a type of radio wave ranging from 300 MHz to 300 GHz), "radio waves" is the commonly accepted general term for the type of wireless communication used by mobile phones.