Features

Phone Charging - Keep it On

30 Apr 2011

With our lives so filled up with gadgets, the chance of a technological meltdown has also become big. You might want to make that one last call or text someone before you board your flight, or you might urgently need to send an email, only to realise your laptop battery is dead. And when you finally find a power outlet, you realise you haven’t brought your adaptor with you. The frustration can be such that once, we witnessed a woman trying in vain to jam the wrong plug into the wall outlet at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), which, surprisingly, does not offer universal sockets.

Happily, Hong Kong station of the Airport Express has kiosks that allow passengers to recharge their phone batteries for free. You don’t need an adaptor and you don’t even need to have your charger with you; there are jacks for all major phone types – BlackBerry, iPhone, HTC, LG, Motorola and Nokia – and all you need to do is plug and charge.

The same recharging service is offered by a number of major airports, including the following:

 

Changi Airport, Singapore

Changi Airport, Singapore

 This service can be found across all three terminals and the Budget Terminal at Changi Airport in prime locations. One charging station is located at T3, level 2, departure/transit north and another can be found at T2, level 2, departure/transit south.

How many? 10

www.changiairport.com

 

Dubai International Airport, Dubai

LG has set up multipurpose stalls across the Dubai airport’s Emirates Terminal 3. These bright-pink stations can be found on Concourse 2.

How many? 68

www.dubaiairport.com

 

Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi

Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi

Located mainly in the new Terminal 3, these charging stations are installed in the security hold area, food courts and by most of the boarding gates.

How many? There are more than 100 stations throughout the airport, with many located next to almost every departure gate.

www.newdelhiairport.in

 

Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong

Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong

Unlike the other airports, the phone-charging service is located only at Hong Kong Airport Express station. Alternatively, in Terminal 1, level 7, the packing service counter of Worldwide Flight Services offers paid charging services.

How many? 1

www.hongkongairport.com

 

Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei

Charging stations are located in the arrival and departure areas of Terminal 2. Within the departure areas, they can be found near gates A6, B4 and C5.

How many? 4

www.taoyuan-airport.com/english

Qingdao International Airport

A charging station is located in Terminal 2. It can be found between gates 5 and 6 within the departure area.

How many? 1

 

Universal solution

The laptop is another item that business travellers don’t leave home without. It has become a portable office, the command centre of your business when you are on the road. What if the battery is running low and you don’t have an adaptor? Surprisingly, very few airports have universal power sockets. For example, Hong Kong International Airport, which handled 12.5 million passengers during the first quarter of this year alone and evidently serves as a major hub for international passengers, does not have universal power points.

Fortunately, the following airports do feature universal sockets that let you charge regardless of your electric plug configuration:

Dubai International Airport, Dubai

Universal power points can be found in many areas of this hub. They are installed on both arrival and departure levels of Concourse 1, as well as in the lounges of Concourse 2, such as the Emirates Business class lounge, Emirates First class lounge, the VIP lounge and the Merhaba lounge. They are also available at the food court in Terminal 1.

www.dubaiairport.com

 

Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai

Shanghai enhanced all infrastructure and facilities in time for the World Expo, including the airport. Both terminals have universal power points at almost every other gate in the departure areas. Terminal 1 has 10 sockets and Terminal 2 has 48 sockets.

www.shanghaiairport.com (Chinese version only at present)

 

Power of independence

Rachael Ho searches for tech accessories that reduce your reliance on outside electricity sources

 

Lifetrons Portable Multi-Power Charger, 4800mAh Deluxe Edition (Ref: LT025) 

The Lifetrons Portable Multi-Power Charger is a saviour for business travellers. The second generation of the world’s smallest high-capacity (4800mAh) portable charger can charge two devices simultaneously. It can recharge mobile phones, PDAs, iPods, mp3 and mp4 players, PSPs, and even NDS lite via USB. A built-in safety and power-saving technology provides up to 15 days of stand-by time for BlackBerrys and 120 hours of audio playback time for most iPods. The charger is available in silver white or exclusive shiny black.

Lifetrons Portable Multi-Power Charger, 4800mAh Deluxe Edition (Ref: LT025)

Where to buy: Over 80 airlines including Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar, British Airways, as well as duty-free shops in Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, Macau International Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport and Incheon International Airport.

www.lifetrons.ch 

Price: US$95

SKROSS World USB Charger 

With the latest Swiss-designed World USB Charger from SKROSS, you no longer have to bring along a variety of chargers on business trips. The all-in-one country slider system offers the right connection no matter what electrical standard is used in more than 150 countries. This compact adaptor has a high charge current strength of 1300mA and two integrated USB ports, which allows you to charge two devices simultaneously.

SKROSS World USB Charger

www.skross.com

Where to buy: Inflight on about 63 airlines including American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Qantas and Singapore Airlines.

www.worldconnect-shop.de/

Price: US$39.90

 

eGear i1500 Emergency iPhone/iPod Battery Backup Companion

The eGear I1500 is your perfect travelling companion. It is a powerful emergency backup battery, compatib le with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3G/S and iPod series. It is also lightweight and portable so that you can fit it into your pocket when you travel from meeting to meeting. The LED indicator displays battery life, and it uses smart technology to protect the battery from overcharging. The device is built to last for up to 500 full charges.

eGear i1500 Emergency iPhone/iPod Battery Backup Companion

Where to buy: Singapore Airlines
Inflight Magazine (Krisshop)

n Price: S$99 (US$79)

 

Energizer SP2000

Bid farewell to bulky travel adaptors and chargers, the Energizer SP2000 portable charger uses solar power to charge your mobile and mp3 devices everywhere you go. It has a triple-panel construction that provides direct charging. Simply plug the charger into your device, and expose it to the sun. It has a smart LED light indicator showing battery and charging status, and can be used to recharge up to 500 times. This handy charger is also environmentally friendly, with an Energy Star-certified full charge auto shut-off. It comes with six interchangeable tips for different gadgets.

Energizer SP2000

Where to buy: Sprint-Cass, Singapore Changi Airport:

#026-101, #026-102,
#026-055/056, Terminal 2

#021-002, Terminal 1

#02-30, #02-61/62, Terminal 3

#01-052, Budget Terminal

www.energizerpowerpacks.com

Price: US$99.99

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