The EE Power Bar gives your phone a battery boost for free. Here’s what you have to do to get one
EE has launched a bold new initiative to help your power-hungry smartphone last through the day.
So what exactly is the EE Power Bar, how does it work, and how can you get your hands on one?
We’ve been speaking to EE to get the lowdown.
Portable power
The EE Power Bar is, quite simply, a portable smartphone charger.
It’s essentially a compact cylindrical 2600mAh battery that offers one complete charge to a typical smartphone via its bundled micro USB cable. It features an LED indicator to let you know how much charge it has left.
Oh, and it also features an integrated LED torch, which is a nifty bonus.
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It’s free for EE customers
If you’re an EE customer, whether on contract or PAYG (provided you’ve been topping upp with the network for at least three months), or if you’re a subscriber to one of its fixed line and broadband services, you can claim your free EE Power Bar.
To do so, mobile customers just need to text ‘POWER’ to 365, while broadband customers should text ‘JOIN’ plus your EE landline number to 60005 (texts cost 35p). You’ll receive a promotional code. Take that code into an EE shop, and you’ll be given your free Power Bar.
Or rather, you’ll be lent it – the Power Bar is being handed over to customers on a free to hire basis.
If you’re on one of the UK’s other mobile networks, you can still grab yourself an EE Power Bar, but it will cost £20 to do so.
You can swap it at 500 EE shops
If you find yourself out and about and your EE Power Bar is as flat as your smartphone, you can simply pop into an EE shop and swap your depleted Power Bar for a fully charged up unit.
There’s no limit on this provision, either, so you need never run out of juice again.
We asked an EE spokesperson if all EE stores would be equipped to offer this free-swappaing service. They responded that “EE will make every effort to pre-estimate demand. If there are no charged Power Bars available, customers can visit any of our EE retail stores nationwide – we have over 500 taking part.”
Alternatively, you can cut out the carelessness and charge the EE Power Bar yourself at home. It takes four hours to charge completely.
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What if the EE Power Bar is damaged?
If your EE Power Par is faulty or damaged, through no fault of your own, EE will provide a free replacement. If it’s damaged through misuse, you’ll have to surrender (hand in) your Power Bar (for your own safety, apparently) and apply for another at a cost of £20.
Why has EE introduced it?
Why would EE launch such a generous scheme, you might wonder? It’s all part of rewarding both new and existing customers, and it seems running out of power is a considerable concern for smartphone users in 2015.
“EE’s research indicates that over half of all UK consumers wish there were more ways to charge their smartphone in public places,” an EE spokesperson told TrustedReviews. “EE wanted to provide a solution, and give customers power on the go.”
It also forms part of a wider plan for EE to become the number one network for service.