CES 2013: Cellphone Runs on One AA Battery - East Idaho News
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CES 2013: Cellphone Runs on One AA Battery

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Getty 010713 Batterytop?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1357595178911Jupiterimages/Thinkstock(LAS VEGAS) — This year’s Consumer Electronics Show is full of groundbreaking smartphone technology — the newest screens, processors and connectivity for our powerful phones — but sometimes those fancy features can fail you, especially if they drain your batteries.

That’s why SpareOne decided it was time to make a low-powered cellphone that runs on a single AA cell. Just put one in the back of the phone and you can make calls for up to 10 hours. You can also pop your SIM card in to use your regular phone’s number.

SpareOne says the idea really isn’t to replace your more complicated and powerful smartphone. “This is meant to be an emergency and secondary phone for outdoor use or travel use,” Christian Scheder, the president of SpareOne, told ABC News. “The battery life of phones is getting worse and worse. We know there are a lot of times and people who cannot charge their phone.” Scheder cited superstorm Sandy and other natural disasters as proof that it’s good to have a spare phone around to make emergency calls.

The phone comes with a waterproof bag, and SpareOne says a dry cell, unused, can keep its charge for years. There is a large emergency button on the phone for calling 911 — no SIM is required to make those calls. And there is a flashlight on the top, which provides 24 hours of continuous light.

SpareOne also makes an app that lets you use your smartphone to track people’s locations during emergencies.  The SpareOne is available now for $99.99.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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