a gadget which discharges a mobile?

[vittoria]

has anybody ever heard of a gadget which discharges a mobile phone's battery? The idea behind this is as follows: it helps to prolong the battery's life if you wait until it is completely discharged before you recharge it - but of course no-one wants to wait until it is completely discharged in case it happens while you are out and need it - hence the trick of a gadget which finishes discharging your phone battery quickly once it is nearly discharged but not quite. What would such a gadget be called? My sister tells me they have them in Italy, but I suppose if I walk into the Carphone Warehouse and try to describe it, they will think I am mad! Recently I tried to buy a new battery for my mobile and they tried to convince me that I needed a new mobile phone. I found them insincere and don't trust them. Any ideas?

[cupra]

I remember my (very old!) Ericsson having a discharge mode. Cellnet (as was) used to have a free information line with a recording of services which you could call to run the battery down.

These days, batteries don't (supposedly) have a charge memory to the same extent as the early phones - but if you feel it'll help, I'd suggest trying to find a freephone (mobile) number to discharge your phone!

[Ewood27]

It's not stupid. I have a discharger for my camcorder for the same reasons. Now, if you find one that will discharge SOMEONE ELSE'S mobile while they're driving and using it, please tell us all!

[gazzawazza]

When my battery is getting close to being flat I just get my daughter to play on one of the games till it's dead.

[TheHitMaker]

If you get a PC cooling fan (available from all PC shops) and stick the two wires to the battery terminals with electrical tape you will have a very efficient battery decharger.

[mikewith]

100 bonus points to Ewood27 for turning this question into an attack on car drivers who use their mobile phones ;-)