Okay, so i might be wrong about this, but as far as i'm aware, this is offically what is known as a "darlton cock-up" lol.
1) When the plane crashed, cell phones still worked.. They had no reception, much like the transiever, but never the less, they still had power, meaning the electromagicky thing from the hatch didnt fry them like an EMP. (this is seen in the pilot when boone tried to call home but cannot get through)
2) the reason why they couldnt call for help whilst on the island, was because the "looking glass" was blocking signals and transmissions coming in and out of the island. This is why sayid spent roughly three seasons trying to get a signal and getting nowehere :/
3) At the end of Season 3, Charlie turns the "looking glass" off. This results in peneolope managing to talk to the charlie, along with the fraeighyter (<<< don't know how to spell that word lol) managing to talk to jack.
4) but then a number of survivors grow suspicious of the people on the ship. Can they really trust them ? are they dangerous ?
So.. basically my point is.. Season 4 was mostly pointless lol :P I mean, if the looking glass was shut down, then surely the survivors could simply have called someone else ? The cellphones weren't fried, and the big, hi-tec phone still worked. is everyone with me ? or have i missed something ?
i've missed something haven't I ?