Philips Electronics is introducing a cell phone that features a compartment for an ordinary AAA battery, which can power the phone when the main battery runs low.

The phone, the Xenium NRG handset, was developed by Philips in collaboration with battery maker Energizer and an Israeli chip maker specializing in battery management technology.

The AAA battery can be rechargeable or disposable, and can be of any brand or type. What's more, if a rechargeable AAA battery is used, the phone will recharge both the main battery and the backup AAA when it is plugged into an electrical outlet.

The companies say the AAA battery can supply up to three extra hours of talk time. They did not say how much the phone would cost or when or where it would go on sale.