Mobile Phone

[rov1200]

I fully charged my mobile phone a week ago. The phone and battery are new. I did not make any calls during this period but found the battery flat and had to be charged again.

How long should the ordinary mobile phone last before re-charging. The phone is a Nokia 1208

[Buenchico]

If your phone has been switched on (even if you've not made or received any calls) it's still used quite a lot of power. The cellular network relies on your phone periodically sending out a "I am here" message to the local masts. (You've probably heard those signals if you've ever left your phone near to a radio or to your PC's speakers). After sending out that 'location' signal, your phone waits for a '"Thank you - message received" reply from a local transmitter. If it doesn't get one (because you're in a fringe reception area) it re-sends the location signal, at increased power. If it still doesn't get a reply, it tries again with yet more power.

So if you happen to spend quite a bit of time in a poor reception area (or somewhere like Southwold promenade where there's no signal at all for Vodafone) your phone will constantly be sending out high-power 'location' signals, while it tries to contact a local mast.

Consequently your mobile phone's battery can be drained quicker in some locations than in others. So there's no fixed rule about how long the battery should retain a charge. However I'd expect a new battery to typically last a week or so before going flat (assuming that the phone is switched on but not used for calls), whereas an older battery might need charging after two or three days.

Chris

[rov1200]

But as far as I know it was switched off. Also after about 5 secs non use it switches off. As you can imagine I only use it for emergencies. It never came with a handbook.

[Panic Button]

If the phone and battery are new, how come you didn't get a handbook?

[rojash]

"Also after about 5 secs non use it switches off."

That's some weird phone, then. That means no one can ever get through to you unless they happen to call within 5 seconds of your hanging up.

[fo3nix]

Switched off, or the screen and lights are off?

If the phone is truly switched off, the battery should last a while.

If it's in fact just on standby (i.e., looks off, but can easily and quickly be operated and can still receive calls), then it'll last about a week with no usage.

[redcrx]

if its actually off, ie no-one call call you it could take ages to lose power. Ive just given my daughter an old nokia of mine thats been in cupboard for almost 18 months. Shes turned it one and theres over half the battery power there.

my nokias used to last up to a week on standby.

[rov1200]

Yes it must have been on standby. Thanks

[denis567]

Chris has answered a question that has been bugging me for ages. While travelling in the car and listening to the radio, I frequently get this noise on the radio, and from Chris' explanation it sounds as if it is my mobile sending out a 'I am here' signal. Thanks Chris

[FelixKinn]

Mobile phones also drain battery on standby a little bit. But a mobile phone is not used for a long time it may shut down. We have to charge it again.