New cell phone developed by Philips, Energizer can run on regular AAA battery for backup power

clipped from enews.earthlink.net ORLANDO, Fla. - Philips Electronics is introducing a mobile phone with a built-in compartment for an ordinary AAA battery to power the device when the main battery runs low. The AAA battery inserted into the phone can be of any brand or type, whether rechargeable or disposable. In the case of a rechargeable, the phone will recharge both the main battery and the backup AAA when it is plugged into an electrical outlet. The companies say the AAA battery can provide up to three extra hours of talk time. The Xenium NRG is expected to be available later this year, but the companies did not disclose how much it would cost or where it would be sold. The new handset is based on the same Techtium technology that was used to develop Energi To Go, a portable backup phone charger that Energizer introduced last year. That device is also powered by standard AAA batteries. By BRUCE MEYERSON (AP Technology Writer) From Associated Press March 29, 2007 12:51 PM EDT