Why are Two Way Radios so Bigger than Cell Phones?   by Devang Kakkad

While two-way radio devices allow for voice communications just like cell phones, they are very different than Mobile Cell phones on many levels. Two-way radios are used by professionals in the industrial and government areas of society, whereas cellophanes are used mostly by consumers. Cell phones are one-to-one communication devices, whereas two-way radios are one-to-many communication devices. Cellophanes are used for individual calls, whereas two-way radios are used primarily as a communications tool for the organization.

Typical power levels are about 1-5W. In contrast, Cell phones are typically 0.6W. Because the cell sizes are larger for two-way radio systems, the talk-in range of the portable radio must be compensated with higher power outputâ