A cellular phone contains a pedometer feature operating from a logging of repeated acceleration measurements, and captures body movements in a similar way as a stand alone pedometer. The acceleration measurements may be taken from a dedicated accelerometer, or from an accelerometer otherwise already integrated into the cell phone for use by any number of other features, including gaming, phone off-hook detection, etc. The pedometer feature may be integrated into a cell phone that includes an accelerometer for other purposes. For instance, in such a cell phone that already includes an accelerometer, a software applet may be downloaded over a data link to the phone to be activated and operate as a pedometer in addition (or instead of) the use of the accelerometer for its original purposes.