Last Longer at BlackBerry Jam Americas With These Power-ful Tips

BB Jam Americas is less than 48 hours away and surely you'd want to be able to share you experiences with the world by sharing pictures, checking in to the different sessions and even video calling your PlayBook friends back home. If you are a seasoned conference attendee, you'd surely know to pack plenty of power adapters and other charging implements. If this is your first time, don't worry, we're here to help you last all day with your gadgets.

Take advantage of free power:

In previous BlackBerry events, booths have been set up so that you can recharge your battery or just swap your dead and tired battery for a fresh one. Make sure you grab a copy of a map of the venue and spot these charging stations. Of course, you can bring your own charger, but given the amount of people who attend this conference every year, your chances of finding an open outlet are slim to none. Make sure you check the restaurants at the venue/hotel for open outlets.

Be prepared:
I always carry a few chargers and an outlet multiplier, so that when I do find an empty outlet I can charge more than one device quickly. Lately though I have been carrying a Belkin mini surge protector, which comes handy for those devices I can charge with a USB cord. Note that most BlackBerry devices need a specific USB amperage to charge and unfortunately this one won't work with the BB phones I've tried, namely the 9800 Torch and the 9900 Bold.

Keep the power in your pocket:


For the most part I can always carry a spare battery for all my devices, and for my Bold 9900, I like to carry the "BlackBerry J-Series Extra Battery Charging Bundle." I saw an attendee with one at BlackBerry 10 Jam World Tour and purchased one as soon as I got home. Having a spare battery is better than sitting in a crouched position next to an outlet right outside the ladies bathroom any day. If after going through two batteries you still need more juice, keep one of these little guys handy:


This Energizer Energistick has gotten me out of a few sticky situations. Boasting an added 90 minute talk time to a dwindling battery, it is more than enough to help you get to the next recharging station and give you a chance to pull out the big guns.


There are lots of rechargeable battery packs out in the market, but I really like this one. The Brunton Freedom Portable Power unit is a must have if you want serious power-in-a-box. This solar powered charger boasts a 2,200 mAh lithium polymer battery that is both nature friendly and PlayBook friendly. I have used this charger to fully bring back my PlayBook from the dead when I travelled to the Grand Canyon last April.

Do you have any power harnessing tips you have learned in your travels? Please share in the comments below.