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About Targus
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Press and Media
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The New York Times 7/11/2002 - Cord Uses Computer's Power To Charge Cellphone
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Sounding suspiciously like a high-technology version of robbing Peter to pay Paul, a new accessory cord allows you to recharge a mobile phone using power from your computer.
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The cord, made by American Power Conversion and other manufacturers, plugs into the U.S.B. port of a desktop PC or a battery-powered laptop. Once the computer is switched on, the port yields 5 volts of power, more than the 3.6 to 4.5 volts needed to charge most phones, said Jane Morgan, mobile products manager for American Power Conversion, based in Providence, R.I.
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"It's a much smaller, lighter solution than carrying your mobile phone charger," Ms. Morgan said of her company's U.S.B. Mobile Phone Charger cord. She noted that the cords, which weigh three ounces, eliminate the need for separate plug adapters for users who travel abroad.
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The cords have been available in Australia and New Zealand since last year. Before American Power Conversion released a commercial version here, some North American hobbyists were making their own. The American Power Conversion device includes a voltage regulator to ensure that the cellphone is not damaged through overcharging or reverse polarity.
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Various versions are available at roughly $20 to $25 for some Ericsson, Nokia and Motorola phones; similar products from Belkin and Targus support other phones. Adapter are also available for use with Palm devices and digital cameras. The power sharing does not cause a noticeable drop in the battery power of notebook computers, some early users have reported.
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