Enneagon: Note that the hand held device, the Pip-boy isn't a phone, and never was intended to be. The 90's never happened in that alternative future.
The closer thing to a phone that I remember finding in the classic Fallouts, are the camoufagled radios. One of the people that uses them to communicate is the leader of the slaver's guild, Metgzer.
The only long distance conversation you can have is that one in the Gecko's nuclear power plant, in the computer that can activate the maintenance robot.
It's a fun conversation! ;)
You can't use the radio to talk with people, even if the radio is fine (like the one Vic fixes).
That's only possible in the fan-made game called Fonline 2238, where it can be used to talk with other players, that aren't present in your current location. I mean, it was possible, before the server got shut down. But I believe it's possible to do that in the newer MMO, called Fonline Reloaded.
http://www.fonline-reloaded.net/