Cellphones, 9@9j, aaa, backupower, battery, philips, xenium

Philips Xenium 9@9j Cellphone Has AAA Battery Power Backup

We've talked about Philips Xenium cellphones long battery life before, but the new Xenium 9@9j goes one better: it's the first to use "BackuPower" battery technology. Slot an AAA battery into the phone, and the April-bound 9@9j will slurp power from it when its standard Li-ion battery goes flat, giving you an extra three hours of talk time. Its the first cellphone to do this, and though it increases its size, those extra hours are going to be useful for people who spend time away from power sockets. [Techdigest]

4:04 AM on Thu Feb 14 2008
By Kit Eaton
4,172 views
22 comments

Comments

JoOngle at 05:40 AM on 02/14/08
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Don´t know what to think about this one...

...first thing that struck me was:

- Practical for people
- Bad for the environment
desostros at 05:44 AM on 02/14/08
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Use a rechargable battery.
Then i guess its only as bad as a lithium-ion.
S-Mies at 05:51 AM on 02/14/08
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This isn't really the first cell phone that can run on regular batteries. The Motorola C520's battery could be switched for four regular AA batteries (ftw). The phone's own battery was slimmer though, so you'd need either tape or a more spacious back cover to be able to fully enjoy this feature.
Dead Ghost at 06:11 AM on 02/14/08
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Very usefull when you go in the wilderness. :)
djheath at 06:26 AM on 02/14/08
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This seems such a simple idea. Great!
Stalhandske at 06:40 AM on 02/14/08
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Or you can buy a small cellphone charger that is powered by a AA battery, very simple and probably works for mosts of the cellphone out there cos they add loads of different connectors. Really chep as well.
Stacky Botrus at 06:45 AM on 02/14/08
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There are smaller batteries than that! Try a AAAA or an AAAAA or an AAAAAA or an AAAAAAA or an AAAAAAAA!

Then go to AA via AAA.
swartz at 06:59 AM on 02/14/08
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not to bring down the party, but there is and old phone that would accept 3 aa batteries intead of the nicad pack.

[www.askanowner.nl]

so its not really the first...ok its the first with an Extra battery.
BoinK at 07:19 AM on 02/14/08
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I'd rather see that space being occupied by the more efficient chemistry that is already in there to start with... If I needed a backup I'd rather have it separate from the phone.
SnowLeopard at 07:50 AM on 02/14/08
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I suppose the only advantage it has over a spare standard battery is that you can buy this from the shops, etc, when you are out and about...
Gonzie at 08:10 AM on 02/14/08
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that's a pretty good idea, just keep a pack of triple A's in your car for an emergency like :)
Matthew77 at 09:02 AM on 02/14/08
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I seem to remember my 1996 MicroTAC Elite having that option. Or perhaps it was my 1998 Ericsson?

Anyway, one of my old analogs had a battery pack which held three AAA's.
Palestina at 09:33 AM on 02/14/08
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@Matthew77: And got a 3 min talk time rofl! Those old phones were power hungry. I wonder if we had a huge mobile like these oldies with nowadays technologies and minimum accessories, only a phone book and caller ID. It would last for months.
rrwakc at 10:18 AM on 02/14/08
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and in the meanwhile you can change your primary battery without having to turn off your cellphone.
Monty at 10:20 AM on 02/14/08
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I am waiting for the iPhone version with a AAA battery slot.
combat chuck at 10:51 AM on 02/14/08
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BackuPower! BOOM!
MayGirl at 11:18 AM on 02/14/08
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But this phone used rechargable batteries?? Imagine to buy batteries each 3 days!!! lasvegasunion.com
matto at 12:14 PM on 02/14/08
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Connectedness Index: 186
Brought to you by Acura TSX

is that really the model name, or did the marketing guy's cat step on his keyboard at the wrong moment?
Bokusatsu_Tenshi at 01:45 PM on 02/14/08
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Might be good for some, but I'd rather buy an extra battery, than have that extra bulk on my cellphone that would be useless most of the time...
Hamood at 02:41 PM on 02/14/08
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This is old. Alcatel did this in 1998

[www.gsmarena.com]
Hello_Newman at 10:50 PM on 02/14/08
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The real value in this type of phone is the fact alkaline batteries keep their charge for 3 years or so. It's not the fact you'd do this all the time, but the fact that you can do it. Hiking, keep some of them in the car, whatever. These are for when you're in another country and out of juice, out in the woods, it's a VERY nice option to have if you need more power sometimes.
pepito99 at 08:13 AM on 04/07/08
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I think this concept is just great and moreover, simple to understand. True that those old phones could use AA batteries but they were extremely power hungry. With this new device from Philips you can talk for 8 hours only on the Li-Ion and add 3 more hours on one single AAA that you can buy anywhere and for cheap.
Also, regarding the environment issue, they guys from Philips had thought about it and added a rechargeable capability. Means that you can use those rechargeable AAA's and the phone itself will charge it when the wall charger is plugged. So basically, you have 11 hours of talk time available + the peace of mind that if you are out of power, you insert a cheap AAA that you can get anywhere.

Superb concept. Wish Nokia or SE could launch a phone like this in the UK. VERY PRACTICAL.