I have had plenty of mobile phones over the years, as I am sure everyone has, and while none have been that great, some have definitely been useless. The most common problem I have ever had with my mobile 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 purchase and carry a replacement battery.

I do use my cellular phone a lot, both for work and for private use, so having another battery is often worthwhile but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is so annoying. My latest phone is working fine but I would like a replacement battery for times when I am travelling.

Cellular Phone Battery

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

Verizon Wireless PN-300

Positives:
The Verizon Wireless PN-300 (Pantech PN-300) is a compact and basic phone with a user-friendly menu interface, tactile buttons, and excellent call quality. It comes with an external display, plus standard features such as text messaging and a speakerphone.
Negatives:
Personalization options are limited with the PN-300, as it does not come with a Web browser. The PN-300 also has a boring design.
Facts:
While the Verizon Wireless PN-300 won’t wow anyone with its design or feature set, we really liked its simplicity and ease of use. The great sound quality makes this a good phone for those who just want a phone to make calls.

While television and newspaper ads may imply otherwise, there is still a market out there for basic, no-frills cell phones. A lot of consumers still want a simple phone that gets the most important job done: making calls. Verizon Wireless has a few such phones, the PN-210 that we reviewed a few months ago, and now the Verizon Wireless PN-300, both manufactured by Pantech. The PN-300 doesn’t have a camera or a music player; nor does it have a Web browser or e-mail. However, it is also very inexpensive at only $29.99 with a two-year contract with Verizon.

The Verizon Wireless PN-300 has a pretty boring design.

True to its simple nature, the PN-300 has a rather boring and minimalist design. Decked out in a silver gray-and-black color scheme, the PN-300 is a pretty compact clamshell at 3.43×1.93x 0.98 inches and weighing in at only 3.32 ounces. Its smooth curves and light weight make it feel comfortable in the hand and when held up next to the ear. We were very pleased that even though the PN-300 is a basic phone, it still comes with an external screen. Despite the fact it’s monochrome, it still displays the date, time, and signal and battery strength, as well as caller ID. On the left spine of the phone is the volume rocker as well as a display button that toggles among different date and time display configurations on the external screen. An extendable antenna is on the top-right corner of the phone.

Flip the phone open and you’ll note a 65,000-color, 1.75-inch internal display, which we found rather lackluster but acceptable considering the phone’s low price point. You can adjust the screen’s backlight time as well as its contrast. Though the font size can’t be changed, the default font size is nice and large, and we appreciated the super-simple menu interface that made navigation a breeze. Speaking of navigation, under the display are two soft keys and a five-way navigation toggle that doubles as four user-defined shortcuts. The phone also has a dedicated speakerphone key, a dedicated messaging shortcut key, the Send and End keys, plus a Clear key that doubles as a voice-command shortcut. All keys, including the alphanumeric dialpad, were a tad slippery but still tactile and easy to press.

Understandably, features are few and far between on the Verizon Wireless PN-300. It has a 500-name address book, and each entry can hold up to five numbers, two e-mail addresses, and can be assigned a caller group and a ring tone. Other features include text messaging, a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, vibrate and silent modes, a calendar, an alarm clock, a calculator, a tip calculator, a voice memo, a world clock, a stop watch, and a notepad. Personalization options are limited because of the lack of a Web browser, but you can still choose from a few preloaded wallpapers and ring tones. We tested the dual-band (CDMA 850/1900) Verizon Wireless PN-300 in San Francisco using Verizon Wireless’s network. We were amazed by how clear calls sounded, and callers reported the same. The speakerphone sounded nice and loud, though we had to raise our voices in order for our callers to hear us while on the speakerphone.

The Verizon Wireless PN-300 has a rated talk time of 3.38 hours and a rated standby time of 7.9 days. We managed to eke out a disappointing 2 hours and 40 minutes of talk time, however. According to the FCC, the PN-300 has a digital SAR rating of 1.3 watts per kilogram.

So for now the true question is do I spend the money buying a new Verizon Wireless PN-300 mobile phone battery or do I just purchase a new phone with a longer life battery? Replacement batteries are fairly cheap but a new phone would be nice. I must make a decision…

I have owned plenty of mobile phones over the years, as I am sure everyone has, and while none have been especially amazing, some have most definitely been rubbish. The only problem I have ever had with my cell phones has been with the cell battery. The battery has either broke 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 my career and for private use, so having another battery is often worth it but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is disappointing. My newest phone is working fine but I would like a replacement battery for times when I am on the road.

Cell Phone Battery

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

Motorola i560 w/ Two-Way Radio (yellow)

Product Short Spec:

Carrier:

Nextel Communications

Talk time:

Up to 165 min

Combined with:

With two-way radio

Weight:

4.7 oz

review

So for now the real question is do I spend the money purchasing a new Motorola i560 w/ Two-Way Radio (yellow) cell phone battery or do I just buy a new phone with a long lasting battery? Replacement batteries are quite cheap but a new phone would be good too. Always decisions need to be made.

I have bought a number of cellular phones over the years, as I am sure most people have, and while none have been particularly extraordinary, some have absolutely been crap. The main problem I have ever had with my cellular phones has been with the battery. The cell phone 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 always use my mobile phone regularly, both for my work and for home use, so having a second battery is often a good idea but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is annoying. My newest phone is working fine but I would like a replacement battery for when I am not in the office.

Cell Phone Batteries

These are the details of my most current phone (yeah, I know it is a bit obsolete, I really should purchase a new cell phone):

Motorola Razr V3 - magenta (unlocked)

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

The unlocked version of the magenta Motorola Razr V3 is identical to the original magenta Razr V3 for T-Mobile. For more information, please read our review of T-Mobile’s magenta Razr V3.

So I suppose the true question is do I spend the money buying a new Motorola Razr V3 - magenta (unlocked) cell phone battery or do I just get a new phone with a better performing battery? Replacement batteries are quite cheap but a new phone would be nice. Decisions, decisions…

I have had many cell phones over the years, as I am sure most people have, and while none have been especially outstanding, some have most definitely been rubbish. The only problem I have ever had with my mobile phones has been with the battery. The cell 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 usually use my mobile phone heaps, both for my job and for private use, so having a second battery is often a good idea but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is a pain. My current 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 (yes, I know it is a bit past it, I really should find a new mobile phone):

RIM BlackBerry 7100t

Positives:
The attractive and compact RIM BlackBerry 7100t is a world phone with extensive e-mail support, a vivid color display, a speakerphone, and an easy-to-use interface.
Negatives:
The downsides of the BlackBerry 7100t are its limited Bluetooth functionality, its lack of expandable memory, its mixed sound quality, and its awkward QWERTY-like keyboard.
Facts:
Though the BlackBerry 7100t is a great option for RIM newbies, we were hoping for more consumer-friendly functionality with the Bluetooth.

Note: This product is part of the RIM BlackBerry 7100 series. .

Our first look at Research In Motion’s (RIM) would-be Treo-killer, the BlackBerry 7100t, generated quite a buzz. Hard-core BlackBerry devotees derided the company’s foray into more phonelike devices, while others didn’t quite understand the QWERTY-esque keyboard. Conversely, some users celebrated the sleek form factor and the bright color screen. Regardless of where you stand on these issues, the fact remains that at $199 (with a T-Mobile service contract) and coupled with the long-awaited (albeit limited) Bluetooth and great e-mail support, the 7100t is poised to bring a new crop of users into the world of the BlackBerry.

The RIM BlackBerry 7100t’s unique design is the first thing that will strike experienced BlackBerry users. In fact, RIM refers to the 7100t as a BlackBerry phone, stepping away from the more traditional PDA-like design of previous models such as the BlackBerry 7230. Styled in pleasant blue and gray, the 7100t’s slim and lightweight dimensions (4.7 by 2.3 by 0.7 inches; 4.3 ounces) give it the ability to fit in most pockets, and it feels comfortable to hold while you’re talking. You’ll also notice that the 65,536-color, 2.1-inch (diagonal) screen is vivid and well lit, and the icons are easy to discern in the user-friendly menus. In standby mode, the screen shows the main menu in addition to the date, time, battery life, and signal strength. Caller ID (where available) is included, and you can change the font size and style. Our only gripe: The BlackBerry goes completely dark when the backlighting is off, so make sure to adjust it accordingly.

Slim and trim: The 7100t is thinner than most BlackBerry devices.

Aside from its sleek form factor, the 7100t’s most notable feature is the 20-button keypad, which is a combination of a standard QWERTY keyboard and a more traditional cell phone keypad. We say it’s a combination because rather than each character having its own key, each button has two or more characters that are accessed by pushing it several times, similar to basic text messaging on a standard cell phone. While the design ensures a trimmer keyboard size, we quickly found that typing messages involves a learning curve. To help, RIM includes SureType technology (which completes words for you) to streamline the text-entry process, but more often than not, it was simply faster to just type the words ourselves. We encountered another issue with the keypad; the 7100t doesn’t use a standard cell phone layout, so when you enter passwords, you’ll have to remember them as numbers instead. For instance, on a standard cell phone, the 5 key is also JKL, but on the 7100t, the 5 key is GH. We point this out as a minor nuisance that is easily overcome with increased use.

Tap dance: The 7100t has an alternative keypad.

Wheelie: Use the scrollwheel and the Escape key to browse the menus.

Included on the keypad is a shortcut to T-Mobile’s T-zones and the Web browser, a button for shifting text, and Return and Delete keys. On the right side of the phone are a jog dial that scrolls through menu items and messages, and you can push it in to select a highlighted item. Additionally, there’s an Escape key that takes the user back one page at a time. Though it’s mostly easy to use, we found in some cases it was a bit sensitive, and we ended up selecting an item when we wanted to scroll past it. The 7100t also boasts a power button on the top of the case, an earphone jack and USB port on its left side, and a speaker on its rear face.

The RIM BlackBerry 7100t’s address book is limited by only the available memory. Each contact holds eight phone numbers, an e-mail address, and two postal addresses (an additional 250 names can be stored on the SIM card). You also can enter Web pages, personal information, and notes under each name, as well as customize other fields to your liking. Contacts can be organized into caller groups, but you can’t assign ring tones, and there’s no picture caller ID. Other features include a calendar, a memo pad, a task list, an alarm clock, 32 polyphonic ring tones, and a vibrate mode. While the 7100t has 32MB of internal flash memory, it lacks an expansion slot.

The inclusion of a long-awaited speakerphone was a definite plus, but we were disappointed by the integrated Bluetooth. Though the 7100t is one of a few BlackBerries to support Bluetooth, it can be used only to connect with a headset and not to sync with other devices. While we could also sync with our calendar and e-mail (see below), we nevertheless were puzzled why a business-friendly device such as the 7100t would boast such a high-end feature but limit its functionality.

Primarily an enterprise product, the 7100t easily connects to Microsoft Exchange and BlackBerry servers as well as Lotus Notes servers using the desktop redirector software. E-mail delivery is in real time, and both messages and the calendar can be synced to the device. If that isn’t enough or if you don’t work for a company that has BlackBerry Enterprise Server installed, you can opt for BlackBerry Web Client, which is included in the T-Mobile package service plan. It allows you to have e-mail messages wirelessly forwarded to your 7100t from up to 10 POP3 or IMAP4 accounts every 15 minutes.

The Internet chat program is compatible with AIM, Yahoo, and ICQ clients, and there’s also a full-featured Web browser and text messaging. You can now open a wide variety of e-mail attachments–most importantly, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, as well as Adobe PDFs–and view them on the device. Unfortunately, it’s a read-only situation, as you can’t edit said files and send it back to a colleague.

Multimedia options were limited. The 7100t doesn’t play MP3s, and you get only one Java (J2ME) game: BrickBreaker. Alternatively, you can download third-party applications or access T-zones for ring tones and games and to browse through news, weather, and sports scores. Though a selection of wallpaper is included, you always can get more from T-Mobile.

We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS) RIM BlackBerry 7100t world phone in the San Francisco Bay Area using T-Mobile’s network. While getting a good signal was a piece of cake in downtown San Francisco, things weren’t so good in the sticks, also known as East Oakland. Furthermore, those on the other end of our calls reported that the phone sounded "staticky" at times, and on our side, audio quality was tiny and hollow.

That said however, the speakerphone was surprisingly good. Just be aware that since the speaker is on the back of the device, you might find the sound muffled if the phone is placed face up on a surface. Also, you can activate the speaker only after you’ve placed a call. As for the Bluetooth, we tested the phone with Logitech’s Mobile Bluetooth headset. We were able to connect without a hitch and found the sound quality to be better than when on the handset itself.

Speak up: The speaker is on the rear face of the 7100t.

Battery life was satisfactory. RIM promises 4 hours of talk time and up to eight days of standby time. For our tests, we met the rated talk time and managed seven days of standby time.

So I guess the right question is do I spend the money getting a new RIM BlackBerry 7100t cell phone battery or do I just buy a new phone with a longer life battery? Replacement batteries are fairly inexpensive but a new phone would be good too. Always decisions need to be made.

I have had many cell phones over the last few years, as I am sure most people have, and while none have been especially amazing, some have definitely been useless. The main 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 get and carry a replacement battery.

I tend to use my mobile phone often, both for work and for private use, so having another battery is often a good idea but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is annoying. My newest phone is working ok but I would like a replacement battery for times when I am not in the office.

Cell Phone Battery

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

Pantech C120

Positives:
The simple Pantech C120 is easy to use and offers decent performance for its size. It also comes with a VGA camera.
Negatives:
The Pantech C120’s volume could be louder and the speakerphone quality was poor. The camera does not record video.
Facts:
The Pantech C120 is a decent choice for anyone seeking an easy-to-use phone for making calls. Frequent users should look elsewhere, however.

Pantech’s last handset for Cingular service was the diminutive C300. Though it offered respectable features and performance, it was so tiny that it would be easy to confuse it with a toy–certainly not the best way to appeal to a mass audience. With its new C120, however, Pantech aims to cast a wider net of users. Though the C120 is still small, its simple candy bar shape casts a bigger shadow. The feature set doesn’t go beyond a VGA camera and a low-quality speakerphone, but it’s a decent handset for anyone who wants an uncomplicated phone for occasional–but not frequent–use. It’s available for $89 with a monthly service plan or with the carrier’s Go phone prepaid service.

In the cell phone fashion show, the Pantech C120 doesn’t even get invited. Its basic candy bar shape is about as minimalist as you can get, and its ordinary silver color scheme makes no effort to stand out. That’s not a bad thing by any means, and it’s almost welcome after seeing so many design-centric models this year, but it’s clear the C120 is not meant for anyone hoping to stand out on the street. At 4.06×1.67×0.53 inches, it’s a hair taller than many flip phones but small enough to slip into a pants pocket. At 2.65 ounces, it’s slightly heavier than its predecessor, but this time Pantech built an internal antenna. The phone feels mostly comfortable in the hand–though usually we prefer a bit more girth–and it had a solid construction.

The display measure 1.5 inches diagonally (128×128 pixels) and supports 65,000 colors. It won’t knock your socks off, but it does its job quite well considering the phone’s size and price. Colors were vivid, though the display had a slight washed-out effect. You can’t change the brightness but you can alter the contrast and the backlight time. The menu interface is simple and easy to master.

The navigation controls are on the small side, but they’re user-friendly and Pantech did the best it could on a compact handset such as the C120. A five-way joystick and two soft keys are your primary navigation tools, while the talk and end/power buttons and a clear key sit just below. In standby mode the joystick acts as a shortcut to the messaging menu, the instant messenger, the phone book, and the "My stuff" menu. Pressing the joystick down opens the Web browser, while the soft keys give one-touch access to the main menu and the camera. The keypad buttons are tactile, and we like that they’re raised above the surface of the phone. They’re brightly backlit as well.

The camera sits on the back of the phone just below a self-portrait mirror and next to a small speaker. Unfortunately, there’s no flash. A volume rocker sits on the left spine, while a covered headset jack and a camera shortcut sit on the right spine.

The C120 has an 800-contact phone book with room in each entry for 3 phone numbers, 2 e-mail addresses, and notes. You can pair contacts with a photo or one of 10 polyphonic ring tones. Other features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calendar, a memo pad, a voice recorder, a world clock, a stopwatch, and a unit converter. Beyond the basics, the C120 also offers a speakerphone and instant messaging for AOL, MSN, and Yahoo.

The C120 took acceptable photos for a VGA camera.

The VGA camera is limited so shutterbugs should stay clear. It takes pictures in two resolutions (6,140×480 and 128×128) and you get just eight color effects, a self-timer, and three shutter sounds (plus a silent option). There’s also a 4x zoom but you can use it only at the 4x zoom, where it doesn’t have much effect at all. The C120 offers only 2.8MB of usable shared memory so don’t get too snap happy. Picture quality was pretty decent–colors were mostly sharp and objects distinct. Unfortunately, the C120’s camera does not record video.

You can personalize the C120 with a selection of wallpaper and sounds, and you can compose your own greeting. You can download additional customization options and ring tones from Cingular with the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Only one Java J2ME game is included (AquaPangPang) but you can buy more titles if gaming is your thing. Just be warned that the C120’s small display isn’t conducive for extended play.

We tested the C120 in San Francisco using Cingular’s service. Call quality was comparable to the C300–decent overall but with a slight hollow sound. And again, the volume wasn’t very loud. Callers reported a similar experience; in particular they had trouble hearing us in noisy environments. Unfortunately, the speakerphone wasn’t improved over the C300’s. You had to speak close to the phone and in any case we avoided using it.

The C120 has a rated battery life of 3 hours talk time and 10 days standby time. It has a tested talk time of 2 hours and 57 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the C120 has a digital SAR rating of 1.13 watts per kilogram.

So I suppose the right question is do I spend the money purchasing a new Pantech C120 mobile phone battery or do I just purchase a new phone with a better battery? Replacement batteries are quite cheap but a new phone would be great. I must make a decision…