To solve this problem, I have been looking into external backup batteries to take with me on the go in case I find myself in a situation where my battery is dying and I don’t have access to an outlet. So far, the best option I have found is the Richard Solo 1800 for Blackberry and Smartphones. This backup battery will double your battery life, says the website, but they can’t translate that into actual talk time as your battery life is determined by your usage. This makes sense because, as I said before, my battery life varies based on how much I talk on the phone in a given day. A feature I really like about this device is that you can charge your phone and the backup battery in tandem. So when I am at home I can plug the 1800 into my Blackberry and then plug the 1800 into the wall and both devices are charging simultaneously. That way I save an outlet and don’t have to “remember” to charge the backup battery as well as my own phone. The 1800 is a small device that can easily slide into a small pocket in a bag for travel, it includes a wire for micro-USB and a direct connection to mini-USB for different Blackberry or smartphone models, and at $69.95 I think this little guy could be a real life/battery saver if you are in a jam or just traveling!
Richard Solo is one with the Force.
Although I have owned my Blackberry Tour for about two months now, I am still on the hunt for great and necessary accessories to boost the productivity and protection of the device. After weeks of use, I have observed that the smartphone’s battery leaves something to be desired when it comes to talk time. The battery life does fine with mobile web browsing and text messaging, giving me about 2 days of moderate use with light talk time, but I have noticed that if I have a few long conversations, my battery life is down to one day or even less. This isn’t a major problem for me, because I am not someone who actually talks on the phone much- I use my cell phone mostly for texting and, now that I have a Blackberry, web browsing and tethering. My conversations number about 5-10 calls a day, lasting an average of 2-5 minutes, but if I have an hour long conversation with a friend, my battery is drained!