In the current of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine (June/July issue, pages 30-33), I looked at all kinds of alternative power solutions for Windows Mobile devices. As a result, I've decided to "road test" many of the devices in the upcoming article and post a quick review on my blog. This week, I've been working with the Medis 24/7 Power Pack, a recharging system that the product's manufacturers call a "green" solution to portable energy. (For more information on this, and all of the alternate charging solutions I review, please check out the June/July issue of our magazine.)

The Medis 24/7 Power Pack is a completely self-contained "green" system for recharging your Windows Mobile device.

Pros:

• Packs enough power to completely recharge just about any mobile device to 100% (most portable power solutions, like the USB PowerStick and Battery Pack Pro are not able to do this)
• Has a great shelf-life even after the battery has been activated.
• Can charge game systems, iPods, and portable entertainment systems as well as your phone.
• Is more "eco-friendly" than most solutions and includes packaging for quick recycling (addressed, but you must pay the postage) with the unit.

Cons:

• Medis is still working through issues on the new "2Watt cord" that but they should be resolved next month (May 2008).
• Does not have broad mobile phone connector support (a connector for my AT&T Tilt was in production, but not available at the time of this review).
• It is larger than a Windows Mobile device, but that is countered with the larger battery capacity.

Summary: The Medis 24/7 Power Pack is an excellent solution for people who demand a lot of portable power, but is still a "young" product that needs to have all the kinks worked out. If a cable for your phone exists, and you want to be completely independent of any other power sources for long periods of time, the 24/7 Power Pack is a great choice for you and the environment.

UPDATE: The company just announced (yesterday) that they have established retail outlet distribution for the United States, Canada and China and will begin shipping to limited stores within the next few months.