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August 21, 2007
In fifteen years, the mobile phone has evolved from a brick-sized telecommunications device owned by business execs to a pocket-sized gadget even pre-teens regard as a must. The upshot is that we can't leave home without one, we can't remember phone numbers and we live in constant fear of the battery life indicator. We could be standing in the middle of Trafalgar Square but once the phone's out of juice we're effectively cut off from the world. But fear no more.
According to UK developer N5, coin-operated mobile phone chargers will soon be installed in thousands of hotels and coffee shops across the UK. N5's Quickie machine can give phone batteries a 'powerful emergency charge' in just 10 minutes – and all for £1 a pop.
The company hopes to sign up a limited number of franchisees to install the machines in various outlets across the UK, and claims they could earn £5,000 per month from the deal.
What will they think of next? How about telephone boxes on every street corner…
Posted by: Paul Trotter
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Posted by treb0r03 on August 23, 2007 :
I have got a device that lets you talk for 20 minutes using a 'AA battery' as the power source. It only cost me £5, & has proved invaluble on several occaisions.
Posted by Tim on August 23, 2007 :
Do phone batterys still need to be fully charged each time to prevent the battery life decreasing every time you charge it? If that is the case then all these 10 min charges will descrease battery life and make people need to use these coin chargers more
Posted by Gary Sturdy on August 23, 2007 :
My phone lasts at least a week on one charge. I'm never that desparate to make/receive a call. Will never earn anything like £50 a month let alone £5000. Anyone who invests in this must be stupid enough to let their mobile phone go flat.
Posted by Doug on August 23, 2007 :
The current phone batteries should be ok with this.
Gary, there are a lot of people who do depend on their phones and this could in fact be a very good investment.
Posted by l ardern on August 25, 2007 :
telephone boxes could be fitted with this charger.wake up BT
Posted by SEAN MULLIGAN on August 27, 2007 :
excellent idea,expensive, but if you need a jolt who cares,also carring a spare £1 cin is simple
Posted by P. Chargeman on September 11, 2007 :
Hi Gary, what is your point, you can make do without your mobile, what about the 55 million others who depend on them, what a silly comment to make ???
Posted by ErnieP on September 11, 2007 :
What a fantastic idea! I've got a new phone that does everything - internet, email, music, camera - I think I can even use it as a phone too! One thing it doesn't do is stay charged for more than a day or two. I'd pay a quid if it went flat and I was in town. Love the name too. Quickie - nice one!