I have bought plenty of mobile phones over recent years, as I am sure everyone has, and while none have been especially great, some have definitely been crap. The most common problem I have ever had with my mobile phones has been with the batteries. The battery has either stopped working or it just would not last long enough and I would need to buy and carry a replacement battery.

I do use my mobile phone often, both for work and for personal use, so having a backup battery is often worthwhile but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is a pain. My newest phone is working well but I would like a replacement battery for times when I am on the road.

Cellular Phone Battery

These are the details of my latest phone (yep, I know it is a bit outdated, I really should purchase a new cell phone):

Symbol MC70 Enterprise Digital Assistant

Product Short Spec:

OS provided:

Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition

Installed RAM:

64 MB

Processor:

Intel 624 MHzXscale

Wireless connectivity:

Bluetooth

Dimensions (W x D x H):

3 in x 1.5 in x 6 in

Input device type:

Stylus,

Keyboard,

Touch-screen

Smartphones ShortSpec:

Band/mode:

GSM 850/900/1800/1900

RAM installed size:

64 MB

review

So for now the right question is do I spend the money buying a new Symbol MC70 Enterprise Digital Assistant mobile phone battery or do I just get a new phone with a longer life battery? Replacement batteries are quite low cost but a new phone would be great. Decisions, decisions…

I have owned a number of cellular phones over recent years, as I am sure everyone has, and while none have been especially brilliant, some have absolutely been rubbish. The only problem I have ever had with my cellular phones has been with the battery. The cellular phone battery has either died or it just would not last long enough and I would need to get and carry a replacement battery.

I usually use my mobile phone a lot, both for work and for personal use, so having a second battery is often worthwhile but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is so annoying. My current phone is working well but I would like a replacement battery for those times when I am on the road.

Cellular Phone Battery

These are the details of my latest phone (yes, I know it is a bit obsolete, I really should find a new mobile phone):

Motorola Razr V3m (Verizon Wireless)

Positives:
The Motorola Razr V3m adds an integrated music player, VZ Navigator (Verizon’s GPS navigation service), and a Micro SD card slot. Like the V3c, it has a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, EV-DO support, and access to Verizon’s 3G service.
Negatives:
The Motorola Razr V3m suffers from poor speakerphone quality, a low-resolution display, and no analog roaming. You also have to remove the battery to access the Micro SD card, which is a bit of a pain.
Facts:
The Motorola Razr V3m is the same as the Razr V3c in many ways, except for the addition of the music player, the Micro SD card slot, and support for VZ Navigator.

Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. .

The Motorola Razr V3m is the successor to the Razr V3c, both of which are exclusive to Verizon Wireless. The most notable improvement is the addition of an integrated music player, a Micro SD card slot, and support for VZ Navigator, Verizon’s GPS navigation service. Otherwise, the Razr V3m looks and feels exactly the same, and it has many of the same features as its sibling. The Razr V3m retails for much cheaper than the V3c–about $119.99 for a two-year contract and $169.99 for a one-year contract–but unless you want an integrated music player on your phone, you shouldn’t feel compelled to upgrade.

The Motorola Razr V3m looks exactly like the previous Razr V3c.

As we mentioned, the Motorola Razr V3m is identical in look and feel to the V3c. It boasts the same sleek profile (3.9 by 2.1 by 0.6 inches) and shares the same gray coloring, external display, controls, flip mechanism, and so forth. The Razr V3m also has the dedicated camera and video recorder key next to the navigation controls. While there’s nothing wrong with keeping the design elements, we were a little disappointed that Motorola didn’t increase the screen’s 65,000-color output or add a camera flash. Another complaint we had was with the Verizon menu system (also found on the V3c), still a little confusing to us. For example, the music player and camera functions are hidden in the Get It Now submenu rather than having dedicated icons in the menu.

The Motorola Razr V3m has a 1.3-megapixel camera.

Now, we hate to sound like a broken record, but the Motorola Razr V3m is very similar to the V3c, even in terms of features. It has a 1,000-contact phone book, caller groups, picture caller ID, and ring-tone caller ID; 25 polyphonic (72-chord) tones are included with the phone. Other features include text and multimedia messaging, a calendar, Bluetooth, voice dialing and commands, a voice recorder, a vibrate mode, an alarm clock, a calculator, a note pad, and a world clock. The 1.3-megapixel camera on the V3m also mirrors that of the V3c, with many of the same settings and options. The only new item we noticed with the V3m was the addition of a self-timer function. Like the Razr V3c, the Razr V3m took pretty decent shots but nothing great. You can read about all the other camera options in our review of the Razr V3c.

The Motorola Razr V3m took good but not great shots.

The primary attraction of the Motorola Razr V3m is the addition of the MP3 player. To access the music player, navigate to the aforementioned Get It Now submenu, select "Get tunes & tones," then My Music. It supports both MP3 and AAC formats, and you can upload music to the phone or download tunes via Verizon’s V Cast Music store. We liked that you can create a personalized playlist of songs. With this multimedia functionality, we’re also glad to see the addition of a Micro SD card slot, giving the V3m more storage options for photos, videos, and music files. Unfortunately, you have to remove the battery in order to access it, which we found annoying.

Also new is the addition of Verizon’s GPS service called VZ Navigator. For a modest fee of $9.99 a month or $2.99 per day, you get a decent GPS service and fewer reasons for getting lost. Along with EV-DO, the V3m also supports V Cast, Verizon’s high-speed content service. V Cast offers a wide variety of content such as video games, TV show clips, movie previews, and application downloads, while V Cast Music is Verizon’s online music store that offers speedy downloads of the latest music hits. However, the V Cast service costs $15 per month, and V Cast Music store charges $1.99 per song download.

As with the previous Razrs, you can personalize the V3m with a variety of wallpaper, screensavers, and ring tones, along with the option to download more. As for games, Tetris and Pac-Man are included, and you can download more if you want.

We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) Motorola Razr V3m in San Francisco using Verizon Wireless. Call quality was great, and callers had no problem hearing us and vice versa. Speakerphone quality was acceptable. As for the audio quality of the music when heard through the speakers, it was decent but a little one-dimensional, tinny, and nothing too impressive. The Razr V3m supports stereo headsets, but since the V3m doesn’t have a regular headset jack, you’ll have to purchase Motorola’s stereo headset ($29.99) separately. V Cast reception was pretty good, and we liked how fast songs and stream video clips downloaded to the phone.

The Motorola Razr V3m has a rated talk time of 3 hours and a standby time of 13 days; we managed to eke out a talk time of 3 hours, 58 minutes in our tests. For standby time, we managed 10 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the Razr V3m has a digital SAR rating of 1.14 watts per kilogram.

So I suppose the right question is do I spend the money getting a new Motorola Razr V3m (Verizon Wireless) cell phone battery or do I just get a new phone with a longer life battery? Replacement batteries are quite inexpensive but a new phone would be fun. Always decisions need to be made.

I have owned many cell phones over the last few years, as I am sure most people have, and while none have been that brilliant, some have absolutely been useless. The main problem I have ever had with my cell phones has been with the batteries. The cellular phone battery has either broke or it just would not last long enough and I would need to buy and carry a replacement battery.

I always use my cell phone regularly, both for my job and for home use, so having a second battery is often worthwhile but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is so annoying. My latest phone is working ok but I would like a replacement battery for those times when I am travelling.

Cell Phone Batteries

These are the details of my current phone (yeah, I know it is a bit old, I really should find a new cellular phone):

Sony Ericsson K750i

Positives:
Gorgeous display; compact design; 2-megapixel camera; fully enabled Bluetooth with PC remote control; infrared port; 64MB Memory Stick Duo card; MP3 player and FM radio; speakerphone; world phone.
Negatives:
Cramped, hard-to-press keys; feels a bit heavy for its size.
Facts:
Sony Ericsson’s stylish, compact K750i takes crystal-clear photos, packs plenty of multimedia options, and tops it all off with fully enabled Bluetooth.

Sony Ericsson’s new K750i is a triple threat: it’s a multimedia powerhouse, it takes amazing pictures, and it boasts top-notch wireless connectivity. The compact candy bar-style cell phone not only has an impressive MP3 and video player as well as an FM radio, it also packs in a 2-megapixel camera (only the second we’ve seen in the United States), fully enabled Bluetooth, an infrared port, a 64MB Memory Stick Duo card, slick animated menus, and excellent personalization options. Were it not for the Sony Ericsson’s hard-to-use keypad, we wouldn’t hesitate to give the K750i our Editors’ Choice award. This unlocked GSM cell phone comes with a steep $630 price tag, but the cost is bound to fall once a U.S. carrier puts the K750i in its lineup.

The silver-and-black, candy bar-style Sony Ericsson K750i bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor, the K700i, although its edges are a little boxier, and it’s slightly thinner and lighter (3.9 by 1.8 by 0.8 inches and 3.5 ounces). While the cell phone still feels a tad heavy for its size, the K750i fits easily in a purse or jeans pocket.

Despite the small keys we liked the Sony Ericsson K750i’s design.

The Sony Ericsson K750i’s gorgeous display measures nearly 2 inches diagonally, packing in 176×220 pixels and a whopping 262,000 colors, easily beating the K700i’s 65,000-color screen. Images looked sharp and drenched with color, boasting plenty of detail. The lively animated menus will seem familiar to owners of the K700i, although we’re happy to report that the various menu screens are much less sluggish this time around. We had only a few complaints: it’s tough to read the TFT screen in direct sunlight (nothing unusual there), and the sleek display is easy to smudge.

And now for our biggest gripe about the Sony Ericsson K750i: the keypad. While the blue-backlit keys look cool, their small size and angled design (the top of each key juts out ever so slightly, like a shim) played havoc with our fingers, making it hard to find–or even press–the right key. We also had a tough time with the stubby, wiggly navigation joystick, and we missed dedicated Talk/End keys; you have to use the soft keys instead. Considering the phone’s overall quality, this fingertip-defying keypad comes as a rude, unwelcome surprise. On the other hand, there are dedicated Clear and Back keys.

The rest of the K750i’s controls are satisfactory, including a volume rocker on the upper-right edge of the phone, a power button up top, and a play/pause button on the left edge for one-click access to your music (see Features). There’s also a dedicated backlit shutter release for the camera just below the volume rocker, as well as a hard-to-open rubber flap covering the Memory Stick slot on the opposite edge. Missing from the mix, however, is a dedicated speakerphone control.

Flip the phone over and you’ll find the camera lens cover and the jumbo flash, along with some embossed emblems and beveled features that make the phone look like an Instamatic from the back. Behind the sliding lens cover is the 4.8mm lens and a small convex mirror for self-portraits; sliding the cover open switches the phone to camera mode–a nice touch.

Talk about everything but the kitchen sink–Sony Ericsson loads the K750i with just about every feature under the sun; indeed, we’re hard-pressed to think of any significant omissions. Let’s start with the basics, such as a 510-entry phone book with room for multiple entries; a calendar with month and week views; photo caller ID; a vibrate mode; voice memos and commands; 30-odd polyphonic ring tones, including a handful of MP3 tones; wireless Web and e-mail, complete with POP and IMAP access; a speakerphone that you can activate only once you’re on a call; 34MB of shared RAM; and a Memory Stick Duo slot (a 64MB Memory Stick is included). There’s even a light control that turns on the LED flash for a minute or indefinitely–perfect for finding your keys in the dark.

The Sony Ericsson K750i’s wireless connectivity options are top notch, including an infrared port and fully enabled Bluetooth. After dealing with phones and carriers that disable all but the most basic Bluetooth functions, it’s a pleasure to see a handset that lets you send and transfer photos, videos, and MP3s, as well as lets you sync contacts and calendar events; the phone was also browsable from our Windows PC and our Mac. Even better, the cell phone comes with a trio of remote-control apps that let you take control of a Bluetooth-enabled system; using the keypad and the joystick, we were able to move our PowerBook’s cursor, make left and right clicks, enter carriage returns and tabs, and even click the Escape key and some function buttons. It’s a cool feature, one that’s guaranteed to raise the hackles of paranoid IT technicians.

The Sony Ericsson K750i’s camera comes with just about everything.

The Sony Ericcson K750i’s 2-megapixel camera is hands-down the best we’ve seen in a phone, surpassing the 2-megapixel version in Samsung’s new MM-A800. With resolutions ranging from the thumbnail-size 160×120 to a whopping 1,632×1,224 pixels, the K750i’s camera boasts autofocus and macro focus for close-ups; a night mode; an 8-second self-timer; color effects such as black and white, negative, and sepia; white-balance settings; a 4X digital zoom; a time and date stamp; picture frames (24 total, all of which look pretty goofy and cartoonish); a rapid-fire burst mode; and a panorama mode that lets you line up a succession of shots for extrawide vistas. Taken together, this impressive slate of features comes as close to that of a standalone camera as we’ve seen in a phone, as does the camera’s eye-popping picture quality (see Performance). Ready to shoot some video? The video recorder includes almost all the same features as the camera, and you can shoot videos of any length, RAM permitting, although the low-quality 3GP file format makes for jittery, blocky movie clips.

You can groove to MP3s and watch videos with the K750i’s versatile media player, which lets you create playlists and even has an equalizer, complete with presets for bass, MegaBass, voice and treble boost, and a user-defined mode. The player’s interface provides scrolling song info and a progress bar showing time elapsed. You can shuffle and repeat your music or minimize the player to listen to tunes while using the handset’s other features. If you’re in an FM mood, the Sony Ericcson’s FM tuner automatically scans and programs up to 20 presets; it even grabs Radio Data System info from stations that digitally broadcast their names and call letters.

Our test cell phone shipped with three games: Aero Mission 3D, a fun first-person shooter in the Top Gun tradition; PuzzleSlider, which creates puzzles from snapshots in the phone’s memory; and Super Real Tennis, an impressive first-person tennis game. There’s also MusicDJ, which lets you create your own ring tones; VideoDJ, for creating MMS-type messages from your video clips; and PhotoDJ, a rudimentary photo editor for your snapshots.

Customization options on the Sony Ericcson K750i are excellent. In addition to the ability to pick your own menu themes, screensavers, start-up screen, and wallpaper, you can also assign specific ring tones and images to your contacts, as well as choose and edit ringer profiles such as meeting, in-car, outdoors, hands-free, home, and office–or you can create your own.

We tested the triband (GSM 900/1800/1900; GPRS) Sony Ericsson K750i world phone in New York City and had no trouble with our calls; we heard our pals fine, and they said we sounded loud and clear. We also tried the cell phone in our interference-heavy living room with wireless phones, a microwave, a big CRT TV, and a wireless network clogging the airwaves and didn’t detect any loss in call quality.

The snapshots we took with the Sony Ericsson K750i looked stunning for a camera phone. In fact, they’re the first photos we’ve taken with a handset that actually measure up to those taken with a standalone digital camera, albeit a cheap one. Much of the softness we normally associate with camera phone photos was gone, and we saw only minimal lens distortion around the edges of our images. Compared to the impressive photos we snapped with the 2-megapixel Samsung MM-A800, the Sony Ericsson’s looked even sharper, richer, and more detailed. In low-light conditions, however, the digital noise we normally see in camera phone pictures crept back into our photos.

Sony Ericsson promises 9 hours of talk time and more than 16 days of standby time from the K750i. That seemed a little too optimistic to us, and sure enough, we measured 5.5 hours of talk time in our tests. However, we got a solid 10 days of standby time.

So I suppose the real question is do I spend the money buying a new Sony Ericsson K750i cell phone battery or do I just purchase a new phone with a better performing battery? Replacement batteries are quite inexpensive but a new phone would be fun. Always decisions need to be made.

I have had a number of cell phones over the years, as I am sure most people have, and while none have been that brilliant, some have absolutely been rubbish. The only problem I have ever had with my mobile phones has been with the batteries. The battery has either broke or it just would not last long enough and I would need to get and carry a replacement battery.

I always use my mobile phone often, both for my work and for private use, so having another battery is often a good idea but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is aggravating. My current phone is working ok but I would like a replacement battery for those times when I am on the road.

Cellular Phone Battery

These are the details of my most current phone (yep, I know it is a bit outdated, I really should get a new cellular phone):

Sanyo SCP 8100 - cellular phone with digital camera - CDMA2000 1X / AMPS

Product Short Spec:

Band / mode:

CDMA2000 1X 1900/800 / AMPS 800

Talk time:

Up to 166 min

Combined with:

With digital camera

Weight:

3.8 oz

review

So I guess the right question is do I spend the money getting a new Sanyo SCP 8100 - cellular phone with digital camera - CDMA2000 1X / AMPS mobile phone battery or do I just buy a new phone with a longer life battery? Replacement batteries are very cheap but a new phone would be good too. Decisions, decisions…

I have bought a number of cellular phones over the last few years, as I am sure many people have, and while none have been particularly extraordinary, some have most definitely been rubbish. The only problem I have ever had with my cell phones has been with the battery. The battery has either stopped working or it just would not last long enough and I would need to buy and carry a replacement battery.

I tend to use my cellular phone a lot, both for my work and for private use, so having a backup battery is often a good idea but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is aggravating. My newest phone is working fine but I would like a replacement battery for when I am on the road.

Cell Phone Batteries

These are the details of my current phone (yep, I know it is a bit obsolete, I really should buy a new mobile phone):

LG Migo VX1000

Positives:
The LG Migo VX1000 has an attractive design and a speakerphone, and it is easy to use.
Negatives:
The LG Migo VX1000 has patchy call quality, no games, and few personalization options. Also, some may find the parental controls too limited.
Facts:
Despite mixed call quality and some limited features, the LG Migo VX1000 is the best cell phone for young kids thus far.

As cell phones find their way into preteen hands, some manufacturers have tried to address the growing niche by introducing handsets that let kids communicate while offering parents a sense of control. Models such as the Firefly and the Enfora TicTalk were good attempts at the concept, but overall, they suffered from unappealing designs, awkward controls, and limited features. Now, there’s a third and more attractive option with the LG Migo VX1000 for Verizon. Exceptionally cute and very green, the Migo earns a spot at the top of our list for kid-friendly phones. Although the call quality is nothing exceptional and parental controls are limited, the Migo is attractive and easy to use, and it comes with a speakerphone. Tweens who are dead-set on a Razr won’t appreciate the limited personalization options or the lack of text messaging, games, and a camera, but for parents who just want to keep in touch, the Migo is a fine choice (the
Nokia 3120 is better suited for kids older than 13). The Migo is fairly priced, at $35 with service, but be advised that you can’t use the phone with a Verizon prepaid plan.

The diminutive Migo is unique inside and out.

Dubbed the Shrek phone because of its green hue and twin stubby antennas, the LG Migo VX1000 is a huge step above the dull, flimsy Firefly and the oddly shaped TicTalk. We’re especially fond of the color, which is nicely offset by the black face and keypad. Measuring 3.23 by 1.81 by 0.87 inches and weighing 2.46 ounces, the Migo is perfect for kid-size hands, and it slips easily into a pocket. Although it’s not quite as sturdy as the TicTalk, the Migo has a much more solid feel in the hand than the Firefly. It survived a few drops to the carpet and hard surfaces.

The rectangular, monochrome display is pretty small (96×32 pixels; 1 inch diagonal), but it manages to display the time, signal strength, battery life, and caller ID. It’s easy to see in most lighting environments, but you can’t alter the brightness or the backlighting time, and the clock is set automatically by the network. Below the display are the large Talk and power buttons that inside a menu double as yes and no controls, respectively. Near the bottom of the Migo are four numbered buttons for dialing the four preprogrammed phone numbers that the phone supports. Like the Talk and End controls, they are large and quite tactile. In the middle of the numbered buttons is a jumbo key for dialing an emergency number, such as 911. As with the Firefly, however, we think it’s a bit too accessible. Even though you have to hold the control for 3 seconds, then confirm your choice with the Talk button to make an emergency call, we still think it could be activated accidentally. Completing the outside of the phone are a side-mounted volume control and a headset jack. The speakerphone is a great touch, and you can activate before you make a call by holding down the 1 button for 3 seconds.

As is the case with other kid phones, the LG Migo VX1000’s limited controls mean that menu navigation takes some heavy acclimation. To enter the menu, first you must press the Talk key, then confirm your choice with the Talk/yes key again. Inside the main menu, there are four function choices, but since the display shows only two lines of text, you must use the volume rocker to scroll down to menu items three and four. Pressing the numbered key will take you to that corresponding menu choice, while pressing the End/no button will back you out of a menu choice. The menu structure is simple and easy to memorize. Option one sets the default ring tone, option two sets the caller ID ring tone, option three edits the four-number phone book, and option four sets the emergency-dial number.

While basic menu navigation was sufficiently user-friendly, editing the phone book was more of a challenge. Each of the LG Migo VX1000’s numbered buttons corresponds to a different group of numbers and letters, depending on how many times you press the key. So for example, the 1 key enters 1 if you press it once, 2 if you press it twice, and 3 if you press it three times. What’s more, an even longer tap dance is required to enter letters. To type f, for example, you must press the 1 key six times. It’s a bit time-consuming and tedious, but chances are you won’t edit the phone book too often. In any case, the Migo is easier to use than its competitors.

As stated previously, the LG Migo VX1000 can call only the four phone numbers as entered in the contacts list. To dial, you simply press the corresponding numbered key, then press the Talk button to place the call. Parents will be glad to know that the phone book is password protected, so even if the kiddies want to change a number, add a new contact, or dial a new number, they’ll be stymied. Curiously, though, the password is set by the manufacturer and cannot be changed. It’s also printed in the manual, so be sure that’s hidden away from spying eyes.

It is important to note that the LG Migo VX1000 can receive calls from anyone, so even if the number isn’t stored in the phone book, the handset will ring. That may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective, but it’s a point worth noting. Other parental controls are limited as well. You can’t limit the phone’s use by time of day, nor can you limit the length of a call.

Verizon does, however, offer a Chaperone service that makes use of the Migo’s GPS capabilities. The Chaperone service consists of a Child Locator that lets parents track their children via the Chaperone Web site or via a downloadable Chaperone application to their Verizon phone. Parents simply request the Migo’s location, and they will receive a map showing where it is. They can also program the phone’s automatic calling buttons and customize the phone’s settings over the air. In addition to Chaperone, Verizon has a Child Zone service that allows parents to designate child-safe areas for their child (say a playground) and whenever the child leaves that area, it will alert them via a text message.

Unlike the TicTalk, the Migo has no games or entertainment options. We would have preferred a couple of options, but we liked that it came with six colored lanyards, three of which have clips for a backpack or a belt. The Migo also comes with a number of stickers that kids can apply to the phone. Not surprisingly, the phone doesn’t support wallpaper, and we were a bit annoyed with the vibrate option. Similar to the Kyocera Switch Back, it functions only at the highest ring-volume level or if the ringer is silenced completely. And speaking of ring tones, the Migo comes with 10 polyphonic (32-chord) ring tones that can be set to identify callers in the phone book. However, kids won’t be able to download new tones.

We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/900) LG Migo VX1000 in San Francisco using the Verizon Wireless service. Call quality was serviceable, but there was a noted echo effect, and audio was patchy at times. Volume was sufficient, and the speakerphone was functional as well. We had more trouble in noisy environments, but call quality should be fine for the phone’s limited use. We used the Chaperone service via the Web site and the LG VX8100, one of the many Verizon phones that supports Chaperone. The Chaperone service was quite handy and very easy to use, and we were able to locate the Migo quickly and efficiently with the user-friendly map. Battery life is rated at 3 hours of talk time and 9.5 days of standby time. According to
FCC radiation tests, the Migo has a digital SAR rating of 1.24 watts per kilogram.

So I suppose the real question is do I spend the money purchasing a new LG Migo VX1000 mobile phone battery or do I just get a new phone with a long lasting battery? Replacement batteries are quite inexpensive but a new phone would be great. Decisions, decisions…