I have bought numerous cell phones over the last few years, as I am sure many people have, and while none have been particularly amazing, some have definitely been crap. The only problem I have ever had with my cell phones has been with the cell battery. The cell 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 always use my mobile phone often, both for my career and for private use, so having a second battery is often worthwhile but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is disappointing. My current phone is working well but I would like a replacement battery for when I am travelling.

Cell Phone Battery

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

Nokia 6236i

Positives:
The Nokia 6236i is a solidly constructed, lightweight cell phone with a speakerphone, a VGA camera, decent call quality, and an FM radio.
Negatives:
The Nokia 6236i is hampered by small and fragile keys, poor navigation controls, a dull design, no analog roaming, and uneven battery life.
Facts:
Nokia has produced an outstandingly light and small handset, but the form factor generates trade-offs in design and functionality.

You get what you pay for with Nokia 6236i. Offered by Verizon Wireless, this decidedly low-key cell phone takes on a candy bar-style form factor that we would have expected from Nokia a couple years ago. On the downside, the design suffers from a couple of weaknesses, such as small buttons and a small screen, but if you want a lightweight phone that integrates features such as a radio, a camera, video capture, downloadable video games, and ring tones, then the Nokia 6236i may be right up your alley. Overall, a decent mix of features makes it a decent low-end selection. The Nokia 6236i is fairly priced at $169 with a one-year contract or $69 with a two-year contract.

Let’s be clear form the start that the design of the Nokia 6236i is far from fetching. With a solid rectangular shape and sharp edges, the candy bar phone is tall, measuring 4.2 by 1.7 by 0.7 inches. Yet, despite its height, the phone weighs in at only 3.5 ounces, which appeals to our sensibilities. Though it gets lost easily in a purse, it fits comfortably in a pocket, and it’s very comfortable to wear on a belt clip, especially with the internal antenna. The color scheme is also a draw. While we like the two-tone silver and gray hues, the shiny silver border around the navigation negatively affects its ease of use (see below).

While the Nokia 6236i is easy to carry around, it’s somewhat difficult to use. Holding it up to your ear or even in your palm is difficult for a person with average-size or large hands. We found the handset slightly more comfortable to use with an earpiece, but it caused discomfort after a short amount of time. On the upside, however, the 6236i, like most Nokias, is solidly constructed.

The Nokia 6236i has a basic candy bar shape.

The display measures a substandard 1.5 inches diagonally (128×128 pixels) and supports only 65,000 colors. The difference between it and higher-resolution screens is readily apparent, as colors and graphics looked a bit washed-out. Still, the display is fine for the user-friendly menus, and the standard Nokia font is blocky, although easy to read; we were unable to adjust the font size. The screen is easy to see indoors and out in any lighting conditions.

The joystick control is unique but not necessarily better than a traditional five-way navigation toggle. The joysticks’ edges are flat, they bothered our fingers after repeated use, and we thought it too easy to accidentally press down and select the wrong option when trying to go in a different direction. Moreover, as mentioned previously, the joystick is much too close to the silver border surrounding it, which results in an overall cramped effect. We did, however, find the joystick useful for wireless Web browsing, as it made our movements quicker and more fluid. The only caveat is browsing for more than 15 minutes is uncomfortable. The backlighting of the arrows surrounding the joystick is bright on the right and left side but dim on the top and the bottom. The joystick acts as a shortcut to the messaging menu, the Web browser, Verizon’s Get It Now Service, and the calendar, but the setting cannot be changed.

Other controls consist of two soft keys, as well as Talk and End buttons. We are disappointed in the lack of dedicated buttons for the speakerphone or the camera, and we thought the company might have considered making the radio–the highlight of the phone–more accessible with its own control. But the size of the phone doesn’t allow more buttons than absolutely necessary. The keypad is very small and has oddly constructed keys, which, in turn, are slightly wobbly with hard edges. Flush with the surface of the phone, they can best be compared with the keys on a laptop keyboard. Unfortunately, we don’t think the keys will hold up to repeated use, especially without a protective cover. We also didn’t find them easier to use than a typical raised keyboard, so we don’t understand the design decision. They are, however, brightly backlit.

The left side of the Nokia 6236i has an indented button that acts as a volume rocker, which we found not very tactile and difficult to use. We would also prefer a more traditional rocker button so that we could feel which direction was up and down without looking at the screen. A slide cover on the right side of the handset covers the headset connector. The power key and the IR port are located on the top spine of the handset, while the bottom of the phone has a pop port, a power connector port, and a microphone connector port. We thought that the camera lens, which is located three-quarters up the back of the phone, could have been placed a little higher so that our fingers didn’t get in the way when taking pictures. It should be noted there’s no flash or self-portrait mirror.

The Nokia 6236i has a 500-name contact book. Each contact stores four phone numbers; a fax number; an e-mail, Web, and street address; and notes. Contacts can be assigned a picture ID but not an individual ring tone, and they can be organized in one of six caller groups, which can have a ringer ID. There are also 25 voice-dialing entries allowed.

Nokia gives us 30 polyphonic (24-chord) ring tones, and you get a vibrate mode. Organizer features include an alarm clock; a calendar; a notepad; a to-do list; a calculator; a countdown timer; a stopwatch; a world clock; a unit converter; and a translator for English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. The converter and the translator are nice features, although they’re limited in scope. Also, the breadth of the translator is in question, as it didn’t recognize the word hello.

The Nokia 6236i supports text, enhanced, and multimedia messaging, all of which are easy to use. The handset has an infrared connection, supports faxing, and offers PC Sync as an accessory. It lacks push-to-talk capabilities, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity, but we wouldn’t expect them on such a bargain phone.

The Nokia 6236i has a camera lens but no flash or self-portrait mirror.

The VGA camera with two resolutions (640×480 and 160×120), a self-timer, a portrait mode, three image-quality settings, a 2X zoom, and a night mode that snaps clear, concise pictures. It takes a while to load the camera, and the absence of the dedicated camera key is a nuisance; we also wish the Nokia 6236i included a flash. Once you take a picture, you can zoom, rename, open the picture gallery, or set contrast on the photo. Inside the gallery, you can then choose any picture, rename it, set it as wallpaper, get details, select how to view, sort, or delete. Our one complaint is that we were unable to easily send pictures; instead we had to open the photo gallery and pick the picture we wanted to send. The Nokia 6236i also has video capture of up to 2.5 minutes with sound and a resolution of 128×96 pixels. We were content with the quality of the video capture. Overall, the Nokia 6236i has 10MB of shared memory.

The Nokia 6236i has decent image quality for a VGA camera phone.

Audio features include voice commands and voice recordings of up to 3 minutes. The feature that most impressed us was the FM radio; when used with a headset, it gets good reception. You can store up to 20 preset stations. The Nokia 6236i allows customizable ring tones and supports a host of formats, including MIDI and MP3. The personalization settings on Nokia 6236i were ample. We could download and set wallpaper, change the color scheme, customize the backlight to any length of time up to 100 minutes, have a different screensaver with any customized time-out screen, and personalize a banner. You can download more options from Verizon using the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. The handset did not come with games, but BREW-enabled titles are available from Verizon’s Get It Now service.

We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900) Nokia 6236i on the Verizon network in San Francisco. We were impressed with the call clarity on our end. There was little friction, and voices on the other end sounded good. It was obvious to most callers that we were on a cell phone, but this was based more on network spottiness than the handset. We didn’t encounter interference from other electronic equipment when using the Nokia 6236i.

The speakerphone distorted at higher volumes but was clear and loud enough when used within a normal range to understand the caller. The phone gets a little warm after extended use, but this doesn’t seem to affect the quality of the sound or performance of the phone. The quality of the sound on the radio is also impressive. The browser has very slow connection speeds and download times on applications, but the online interface is easy to access.

The rated talk time is 3.5 hours, while the promised standby time is 12 days. In our tests, we came away with 5 hours of talk time, and our standby was 10 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the Nokia 6236i has a digital SAR rating of 1.24 watts per kilogram.

So I suppose the right question is do I spend the money buying a new Nokia 6236i cellular phone battery or do I just buy a new phone with a long lasting battery? Replacement batteries are very cheap but a new phone would be good too. Decisions, decisions…

I have owned many mobile phones over the last few years, as I am sure most people have, and while none have been especially great, some have most definitely been useless. The main 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 buy and carry a replacement battery.

I always use my cellular phone heaps, both for my career and for home use, so having another battery is often worthwhile but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is annoying. My latest phone is working well 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 old, I really should get a new mobile phone):

Motorola Razr V3r

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

The Motorola Razr V3r for Cingular is similar to the carrier’s Razr V3i except that it does not support iTunes. Features include a 1.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, and world phone support. For music, the V3r comes with a generic Motorola MP3 player. The Razr V3r is $149 with service. For more on the Razr V3r, see our review of the Razr V3i.

So for now the true question is do I spend the money getting a new Motorola Razr V3r cell phone battery or do I just get a new phone with a better battery? Replacement batteries are very cheap but a new phone would be nice. I must make a decision…

I have had a number of mobile phones over the years, as I am sure everyone has, and while none have been particularly extraordinary, some have most definitely been crap. The main 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 purchase and carry a replacement battery.

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

Cell Phone Batteries

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

Hand Held Products Dolphin 7900

Product Short Spec:

OS provided:

Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition

Installed RAM:

64 MB

Processor:

Intel 400 MHzXScale PXA255

Wireless connectivity:

IrDA,

Bluetooth

Dimensions (W x D x H):

3.5 in x 1.7 in x 7.3 in

Input device type:

Stylus,

Keyboard,

Touch-screen

Weight:

17 oz

Smartphones ShortSpec:

RAM installed size:

64 MB

review

So for now the right question is do I spend the money buying a new Hand Held Products Dolphin 7900 mobile phone battery or do I just get a new phone with a better battery? Replacement batteries are reasonably inexpensive but a new phone would be good too. Decisions, decisions…

I have had many cell phones over the years, as I am sure many people have, and while none have been especially extraordinary, some have absolutely 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 purchase and carry a replacement battery.

I usually use my cell phone heaps, both for my career and for personal use, so having a backup battery is often a good idea but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is annoying. My newest phone is working well but I would like a replacement battery for when I am not in the office.

Cell Phone Batteries

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

Nokia 7250 - cellular phone with digital camera / FM radio - GSM / EGSM

Product Short Spec:

Band / mode:

EGSM 900 / GSM 1800/1900 (Tri-Band)

Talk time:

Up to 300 min

Combined with:

With digital camera / FM radio

Weight:

3.2 oz

review

So I suppose the right question is do I spend the money purchasing a new Nokia 7250 - cellular phone with digital camera / FM radio - GSM / EGSM cell phone battery or do I just purchase a new phone with a better performing battery? Replacement batteries are fairly inexpensive but a new phone would be good too. Decisions, decisions…

I have owned plenty of cell phones over the last few years, as I am sure everyone has, and while none have been especially great, some have absolutely been crap. The main problem I have ever had with my cellular 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 generally use my mobile phone heaps, both for my job and for private use, so having another battery is often worth it but having to replace a faulty or damaged battery is such a pain. My current phone is working ok but I would like a replacement battery for when I am travelling.

Cell Phone Batteries

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

I-mate Jaq

Positives:
The I-mate Jaq has a nice touch screen and runs Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Edition with the full Office Mobile suite. It also features a full QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth, and solid talk-time battery life.
Negatives:
The I-mate Jaq has a bulky design and no integrated Wi-Fi, and lacks a camera option. The smart phone also has poor call quality and is expensive.
Facts:
Plagued by a bulky design and poor call quality, the I-mate Jaq can’t stand up to the competition of other Windows Mobile smart phones.

Despite being relatively unknown in the United States, I-mate has produced some popular and solid smart phones for the U.S. market over the years, including the I-mate Jam and the I-mate SP5. And that’s why it’s so disappointing that the company’s latest model, the I-mate Jaq, is a dud. Announced at the CTIA 2006 fall show, the Jaq was dubbed by blog sites and others as a potential Motorola Q killer, but there’s nothing killer about it. There are a couple of highlights, such as a spacious QWERTY keyboard and a nice touch screen, but the mobile has a bulky design and doesn’t offer any new feature to give it an edge over the competition. The Cingular 8125, the T-Mobile MDA, and the Palm Treo 700wx all offer the same functionality as the Jaq but with better performance and design, so we can’t really find a compelling reason to spring for this device, especially considering its hefty price tag of $499 for an unlocked version.
Design

At 4.8 by 2.7 by 0.8 inches and 5.6 ounces, the I-mate Jaq is neither sexy nor sleek. In fact, it’s downright clunky and unattractive. Though roughly the same size and shape as the Nokia E62 and the HP iPaq hw6900, the Jaq’s lower half is thicker than the rest of the device, as the battery pack and the QWERTY keyboard in the front jut out a bit. Not only does it make the smart phone bulkier, it’s also unsightly. What’s more, its wide body will take some getting used to when you hold it up to your ear for phone calls, and we found it hard to find the earpiece’s sweet spot to hear our callers. (See Performance for more.)

Yet there are a couple of redeeming factors to the Jaq’s design. First, it has a nice 2.8-inch touch screen with a 320×240 pixel resolution and 64,000-color output. The wide screen makes it great for viewing Web pages, and images and text are clear and bright. In addition, many users will appreciate the touch-screen capability; it’s a feature that Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition devices, such as the Moto Q, lack. Once you’ve experienced the convenience of inputting data and navigating the device through the touch screen, it’s hard to go back to a mobile without it. You can also control the Jaq through the navigation buttons below the display, including Talk and End buttons, two soft keys, a Start key, an OK button, and a four-way joystick.

One of the only highlights of the Jaq’s design is its spacious QWERTY keyboard.

The other highlight is the full QWERTY keyboard just below the display. The buttons are tactile, and it has a more spacious layout than the keypad on the cramped Treo 700wx. Though most users shouldn’t have any problems firing off e-mails with this keyboard, we found the orange backlighting a bit hard on the eyes.

On the left spine, there are Volume Up and Down keys and a Voice Record button, while the power button, the Mini SD card slot, and the 2.5mm headset jack are on the right side. A mini USB port sits on the bottom of the device along with the reset hole and stylus holder. The location of the latter in the bottom left-hand corner is a bit awkward; our natural inclination was to look for it at the top. Finally, there are three notification LEDs above the screen for new messages, Bluetooth, and battery status.

I-mate packages the Jaq with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a wired headset, and a carrying case. We should note, however, that the power source that shipped with our review unit had a European adapter. We contacted I-mate, and they said they would ship a compatible adapter with U.S. shipments of the Jaq.

Features

The I-mate Jaq’s feature set is solid but doesn’t offer anything exceptional to give it an edge over the competition or to make up for its poor design. The handheld is powered by a 200MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 850 processor and comes with 128MB of SDRAM and 64MB of ROM. It runs Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Edition, so you get the full Office Mobile Suite, which includes Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and a PowerPoint viewer. ClearVue PDF is also onboard if you need to view PDFs. There are a couple of extra utilities and PIM tools, such as a calculator, a download agent, and a 30-day trial of the I-mate Suite, which includes apps for remote access and backup.

With the QWERTY keyboard, the Jaq lends itself to be a powerful e-mail machine. Outlook Mobile comes with the Jaq as part of the Office Mobile Suite, and it supports push e-mail via Microsoft’s Messaging and Security Feature Pack. I-mate includes its own e-mail client, which you can set up via the phone’s Club I-mate e-mail app. It also supports instant, text, and multimedia messaging.

The I-mate Jaq is a quad-band phone, so globetrotting execs will be able to use the mobile overseas. The address book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts) and is quite robust. You can store up to 11 numbers for a single entry as well as home and work addresses, e-mail, IM screen name, birthday, spouse’s name, and more. You can organize contacts into groups, and for caller ID purposes, you can pair them with a photo and one of eight polyphonic ring tones. The Jaq is not equipped with a camera, however, so you’ll have to get images onto the phone another way. You also get a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, conference calling, and a Blacklist app to block numbers.

Wireless options are limited to infrared and Bluetooth 1.2 There’s also EDGE support but no integrated Wi-Fi, which is disappointing. We understand that the EDGE capabilities lessen the need for Wi-Fi, but we still like having this option for connecting to the Web. Plus, it certainly looks like the Jaq could handle the addition of another wireless radio.

The I-mate Jaq is equipped with a Mini SD expansion slot for all your storage needs.

As far as entertainment, the I-mate Jaq is equipped with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile so that you can listen to your favorite MP3, WMA, WMV, and MPEG-4 files. As always, we recommend you load up these memory-heavy mutlitmedia files on a Mini SD card so that you can save the device’s internal memory for other apps. As we mentioned earlier, the Jaq isn’t equipped with a camera, which is great for those mobile professionals whose employers ban the use of camera-equipped phones, but we would still have liked to see an option for a camera version. The Jaq also comes preloaded with three games (Bubble Breaker, Solitaire, and I-mate Blackjack).

Performance

We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) I-mate Jaq in San Francisco using Cingular service, and call quality was poor. As we noted in the Design section, it was hard to find the sweet spot on the phone’s earpiece where we could hear our callers plainly, but even when we did, the audio was horrible. There was a noticeable hiss in the background, which drowned out our friends’ voices, while our callers reported slightly better call quality. Activating the speakerphone made things worse as we could barely hear the conversation, even with volume cranked to high, and callers reported an echo.

Day-to-day performance was OK. Launching applications took only about a second or so, though there was a bit of a slowdown when we had numerous programs running at the same time–all par for the course. Browsing the Web on the Jaq was also decent as sites loaded fairly quickly, and the wide screen made viewing the pages a pleasurable experience.

The Jaq is rated for 4 hours of talk time and up to six days of standby time. In our tests, we got double the rated talk time. According to FCC radiation tests, the I-mate Jaq has a digital SAR rating of 0.97 watts per kilogram.

So I guess the real question is do I spend the money purchasing a new I-mate Jaq cell phone battery or do I just buy a new phone with a better battery? Replacement batteries are fairly inexpensive but a new phone would be great. Always decisions need to be made.