How to increase life of your mobile Phone Battery Life

Prevent the Memory Effect - Keep the battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Exceptions to the rule are Li-Ion batteries, which do not suffer from the memory effect. Do not leave the battery dormant for long periods of time.

Always use a battery charger, which is by the same manufacturer as your phone, it gives it more life. It also helps if you overcharge your battery now and then.

Keep the Batteries Clean - It's a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. This helps maintain a good connection between the battery and the portable device.
Do not leave your cell phone near any source of heat, a common place being the dashboard of your car, as extreme heat may affect the battery. The battery also operates better at room temperature, vis-à-vis extreme cold.

The vibrator mode of your cell phone consumes more battery, so when not needed, use the ring-tone mode.

Battery Storage - If you don't plan on using the battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. Batteries tend to de-charge when not in use, so make sure you charge them again before using. The performance of any cell phone battery, however, no matter how properly cared for, usually diminishes after about a year. It is better to get your battery replaced then.

When to Take the Plunge for Refurbished Cell Phones

Sometimes what’s old and used breeds new appeal to lovers of all things vintage. The concept of buying used cell phones and refurbished cell phones, though, can either fit you like a glass slipper or evoke unfulfilled feelings of not being hip to the most bleeding-edge whizbang.

Because it’s standard practice today for cell phone carriers to guarantee their products with 30-day return policies with no questions asked, by law they can’t classify a phone as “new” if it’s returned for any reason in that time window. This category of used phones is often coined “buyer’s remorse”.

So when’s it right for you to revive someone else’s previously new cell phone and make it your own refurbished cell phone? When’s it wrong?

What warnings should you heed when making the old-phone plunge? Where should you look to buy one? This is your guide to these questions.