The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Phone maker punts AA-powered blower

15 years battery life, apparently

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

CES 2012

CES 2012 Week

Mobile outfit SpareOne has unveiled a new dinky dialler powered by a single AA battery that, it claims, lasts 15 years before requiring replacement.

SpareOne

The SpareOne is a basic GSM blower with little on offer except the breath-taking battery claims.

Okay, so 15 years is quite a bold assertion, but the company does highlight it would have to be an Energizer Ultimate Lithium L91 battery for the figure to be accurate, admitting too that the phone would need to go unused in standby the entire time.

The SpareOne handles alerts through two LEDs, one for battery and the other for network statuses and signal strength.

That's about all you get, though. You'll have to rely on the good-old fashioned method of storing digits in a diary.

Unless, of course, SpareOne adopted a similar approach to that of the John's Phone, storing addresses in a paper pad built into the rear.

The SpareOne is available soon for $50 (£32). ®

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

Anonymous Coward

The battery might last 15 years, but the sim will probably be deactivated after 6 months!

4
0

If I still went mountaineering/hillwalking

One of these would get stuffed into a waterproof bag and go straight onto my basic gear pile.

Those Energizer Ultimate batteries are pretty awesome - I got just over four years of daily use out of my super-bright torch before it needed fresh ones. Also they weigh about half what normal AAs do. For some applications - where weight, longevity or both matter - their rather generous price tag is definitely worth paying.

3
0

I'd rather stick a spare battery for an android or mophie power pack for an iPhone in my rucksack so that I could be located by GPS or give my co-ordinates if I got into trouble.

2
0

More from The Register

 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?
Review: Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock
Missing Mac ports reunited, for a price
 breaking news
Australian 'Apple tax' repealed for MacBook Air
But the new MacPro is priced at a premium