A cell phone includes illuminated components and a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor detects when the cell phone is coupled to the ear of a user. Therefore, the proximity detector is placed, in part, near the loudspeaker of the cell phone. The proximity sensor controls the illumination of the illuminated components according to the coupling. The illumination is off when coupled, an on when not coupled. The amount of illumination can depend to the intensity of ambient light as measured by a photodiode.