Why does my radio try to turn itself on when it's near my cell phone?

[chicaloca]

So I have this really bad habit of setting my cell phone on or near my clock radio, and I've noticed that whenever I do that, the radio will sort of start crackling (like it's about to turn on) right before a call comes in on my cell phone. Occasionally my clock radio will also start crackling even when a call isn't coming in but my phone is nearby. Usually after either of these things happens, I set my cell phone somewhere else and swear I'll never do that again, but of course I always manage to forget. So, I was wondering if my consistent forgetfulness could be doing any harm to my cell phone? (I.e., should I take it to the cell phone doctor?) Also, _why_ does my radio make that crackling noise, even when calls aren't coming in? One of my friends suggested that maybe people are trying to call me but the radio is interfering in some way when that happens -- personally, I don't find that very plausible, but I also don't like the thought that people have called me and think I'm ignoring them when I haven't gotten their calls, so I just thought I'd make sure!

[LTR]

1. Ashcroft is listening to your phone calls

Don't say anything 'treasonous'.

[sir_captain]

2. the speaker

has a magnet that makes it work (the magnet vibrates and the cone it is connected to makes sound.)

your cell phone uses electromagnetic (essentially radio) waves to communicate. because your radio is not magnetically shielded, these waves excite the speaker's magnet (electromagnetic waves and magnetic waves are very closely related) and the speaker makes noise. you hear sound when there are no calls because the cell phone is still communicating with the cell towers, so there are radio waves going back and forth constantly.

and don't worry...you're not hurting either your phone or radio

as a side note, this is why the speakers in your tv are magnetically shielded. otherwise you'd hear crackling all the time.

[chicaloca]

3. Cool, thanks!

Wow, the thought of my little cheap phone communicating with some giant tower even when I'm not using it has helped me gain a whole new respect for my phone! :) So, I'm assuming my radio wouldn't interfere with my receiving calls either, then?

[sir_captain]

4. neh, it shouldn't