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You are here: Wireless University > Cellular Accessories Purchasing Guide
Cellular Accessories Purchasing Guide
While traditionally considered just another mean of communication, mobile phones have become true personal assistants complete with address books, calendars and built-in modems. Even if you do not exactly own the latest web-enabled phone, a vast array of ôadd-on accessoriesö will allow you to leverage on your cell phone à.
BATTERIES: New phones generally come with basic Nickel Metal batteries. For longer life and greater power however, battery manufacturers use Lithium Ion components. Nickel Cadmium batteries are practically no longer available.
So if you plan to use your phone for business or travel frequently, it is a good idea to purchase a Lithium Ion Extended Battery and use your old Nickel Metal as a back up ! Also, be on the look-out for batteries with higher mAh (milliampere hours) as this provides an indication of the durability of the battery charge.
Generally speaking, ôSlim Batteriesö may have slightly less battery power. ôExtended Batteriesö, generally Lithium Ion, can give you up to 5-6 hours of talk time and often tend to be thicker and heavier although in recent years, the use of certain Lithium Polymers has made batteries even more ôvolume efficientö.
HANDFREE SOLUTIONS
Now that is becoming law, it is even more imperative to find the smart hands-free solution for your mobile phone. HF Solutions can range from a basic ôEar-budö (a cord that goes from your ear to the phone) to advanced Hard-wire Hands-free Kits that are installed in your vehicle.
Ear-buds (or Ear-sets) usually plug into your phone with a 2.5 Millimeter jack, a jack that looks like a Walkman jack, just smaller. Many mobile phones however do not have a 2.5 Millimeter jack and therefore the Ear-bud needs to plug into an adapter which in turn plugs onto the phone. In addition to allowing hands-free wireless conversations while driving, Ear-buds have the distinctive advantage of being portable and can be used in multiple settings (walking, while reading on a bus, in a building etc.).
Although the negative impact that cell phone radiation may have on the human brain has not yet been proven, some claim that Ear-buds are an effective way to reduce your brainÆs exposure to EMF (Electro-Magnetic Frequencies) emitted by your phone.
Portable Handsfree Kits: as opposed to their Hard Wire counterpart, Portable Hands-free Kits are installed very easily, often requiring as little effort as ôplug and goö. The most notable example of a Portable HF Kit is the Navigator HF a phone cradle that plugs in the vehicle charger and operates as a full-duplex hands-free speaker and microphone . Vehicle Charger Portable Hands-free are essentially an upgrade of the traditional Vehicle Chargers as they incorporate a hands-free speaker and microphone.
Hardwire Installation Hands Free Kits: while more expensive this solution is certainly the Limousine of HF Kitsà It requires a semi-professional installation (read: you must be very, very handy) yet it provides with the highest sound quality. If your vehicle is well insulated from external noise, a Hardwire HF Kit can allow a crystal clear conversation thanks to a microphone (usually positioned above the wind-shield) and a quality speaker.
If privacy is required a ôPrivacy Handsetö can be purchased and used in conjunction with these Kits allowing the user to prevent others in the car to hear the incoming voice. Hardwire HF Kits can also be used in conjunction with a Fixed Antenna (can either be internal or external).
3 Watt Booster Kits: These kits are used in conjunction with Analog phones and serve the purpose of boosting reception in remote areas. Some car kits for analog phones contain a 3 Watt Booster. Digital phones cannot benefit from wattage boosts.
CHARGERS
Although your new phone probably included a wall charger (a.k.a. an AC adapter), chances are that you do not yet have a rapid charger, a vehicle charger and a desktop charger. HereÆs more:
Rapid Charger: as opposed to your AC adapter, a rapid charger can often charge your phone in under 2 hours (depending on the battery model). It is a ômust haveö for the mobile professional or simply for the cell phone user on the go à
Vehicle Charger: also known as Cigarette Plug In Charger, this accessory is a ômust haveö if you own a car ! A Cig Plug will immediately come to the rescue when traveling for more than one day or simply when long conversations have drained your battery and your day is far from over à
Desktop Chargers: in addition to charging your phone, desktop chargers act as a convenient cradle and support for your phone at your home or office. Desktop chargers usually work in conjunction with the AC adapter that came with your phone.
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