Mobile Phone Accessories

Before you purchase your new mobile phone you should always consider how and where you are going to use it. There are a wide variety of accessories available for every phone that will offer you greater safety, convenience and functionality when using your mobile.

Batteries
There are several types of battery available - lithium ion, lithium polymer, nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium and zinc air. All these batteries are re-chargable except for the zinc air type battery.

Zinc air batteries offer the longest talk times and are cheaper than other batteries. Their main disadantage is that they are not rechargeable but they do not contain any of the harmful chemicals or metals found in other batteries and are therefore more environmentaly friendly.

Batteries offering you the next longest talk time are lithium ion batteries, followed by nickel metal hydride and lithium polymer batteries. If the weight of your phone is a priority then choose a lithium polymer battery as it which weighs much less than a lithium ion battery.

Very few mobile phones now use Nickel cadmium batteries as they only provide short talk and standby. For that reason many manufacturers no longer produce these older type of battery.

Batteries come in several shapes and sizes. It's possible for you to choose a slim or an extra large battery. Slim batteries will be smaller and lighter than your phone's normal battery, but will offer you less talk time. An extra large battery will give you more talk time than your normal battery but is heavier and will make your phone feel more bulky.

If you want to turn off your phone's audible ring tone but still need to be alerted silently then you can purchase a vibrating battery to let you know if you receive an incoming call.

If you know you are not going to be able to recharge your battery you can switch to a non-rechargeable alkaline power pack which will act as a back up until you are able to recharge your normal battery. These plastic power packs are reusable and hold any standard AA alkaline batteries - ideal in an emergency.

Chargers
Car chargers
One of the most useful accessories is a car charger. If you spend a lot of time on the road in your car then these inexpensive chargers could prove invaluable. They work buy plugging into your cars cigarette lighter point and will allow you to use your mobile phone and charge your battery simultaneously.

Desktop charger
If you decide to buy another battery as a back-up or because you feel your normal battery is not holding it's charge you should consider getting a desktop charger that will charge the battery on your phone as well as the additional battery simultaneously.

When purchasing a charger be sure to check that it is compatible with your existing battery and phone as there are a wide variety of chargers to choose from and many are particular to one type of phone.

Hands-free kits
Hands-free kits, as the name suggests, allow you to keep both hands on the wheel while driving your car. Many countries have now banned motorists from using a mobile phone whilst in the act of driving a car unless when used in conjuntion with a hands-free kit.

At the cheaper end of the market a personal hands-free kit will come as a single lead that has a small single ear-piece on one end, a microphone further down the lead and a plug at the other end. This plugs directly into your mobile phone which you can place onto a mount that fits into your cars cup holder or onto a rubberised dashboard mat to stop your phone from sliding around.

A more permanent hands-free setup, known as a car kit, may include a stationary charging cradle, a speaker, a clip-on visor microphone, a 3-watt amplifier and a permanently installed external antenna. You can have these kits professionally installed.

It's worth remembering that the Department of Health do actually recommend that you pull over to the side of the road during any phone conversation, whether or not you use a hands-free kit or a car kit. For more information on this matter please visit www.doh.gov.uk/mobilephones/mobilephones.pdf (you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file).

Fascias
The 'in-thing' in accessorising is to change your phones fascia for a more fashionable look. There are a huge amount of different fascias available for the more popular types of mobile phone ranging from plain chrome to multi-coloured disney® characters.

Fone Buddies
Why not go all the way and give your phone a face. Fone buddies can be used to give your phone it's own identity. They fit over your phones aerial and brighten up your mobile. Some Fone buddies even flash when you receive a call.

Carry cases
Mobile phones can be expensive to buy and you may decide that you want to provide it with some form of protection from the knocks and scratches that come with everyday use. Cases are available in a wide variety of styles and colours from black leather or neoprene covers to clear waterproof plastic covers that allow you to talk, listen and pushbuttons. Most cases let you hang your phone from your belt or purse.

When ordering your accessories, make sure you specify the exact make and model of your mobile phone. If you’re not sure of the phone's manufacturer or model, remove the battery pack and check the label inside the phone, or check in the owner’s manual. It’s better being safe than sorry.