Sony Ships Three-Tier Battery/Charger Line

Park Ridge, N.J.— Sony Electronics is shipping its new line of nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and chargers. The trio of lightweight, sleek, metallic-colored chargers — from high end to low — consists of Ultra Power Quick Charger with Refresh function, Power Quick Charger and Power Charger.

The Sony Ultra Power Quick Charger allows users to recondition new 2100mAh capacity batteries, due to its Refresh function, thus eliminating the memory effect that NiMH batteries obtain when recharged before being fully discharged, said the company. The batteries are ideal for powering digital cameras, PDAs, CD Walkman and portable games.

The Ultra charger, which can be used for worldwide travel, since it offers 100V to 240V service, powers up to four AA or AAA NiMH cells and includes four AA batteries in a package at a suggested $49.99 retail.

Sony's Power Quick Charger, which can charge up to four AA 2100mAh batteries, does not include the Refresh function, but still offers quick charging, said the company. Suggested retail, with four AA NiMH 2100mAh batteries in a package, is $39.99.

The opening pricepoint Power Charger, which has a suggested $19.99 retail, charges up to four NiMH high-capacity 2100mAh cells in about seven hours.

Sony also has introduced Digital³ Shot Oxy-Nickel high performance primary batteries, specifically designed to last two to four times longer than alkaline batteries in high performance devices such as digital cameras. One AA 4-pack carries an $8.99 suggested retail.