The Cheapskate

Get two emergency-power packs for your phone for less than the price of one.

(Credit: Woot)

Today only, Woot.com is offering two Cellboost disposable chargers for $2.99, plus $5 for shipping.

If you're not familiar with Woot, they offer a different deal every day--and frequently sell out of the featured product.

If you're not familiar with Cellboost, it's a disposable battery pack that powers and recharges portable devices.

In this case, it powers and recharges any device with a mini-USB port--namely most BlackBerry and Motorola phones. (Here's a complete list of compatible models.)

I've used Cellboosts before; they're insanely handy for those times when your phone battery dies and there's not an AC outlet or cigarette lighter in sight. Throw one in the glove box, another in your purse or briefcase, etc., and you'll never be without emergency power.

When you've used up the power packs, please take them to a recycling center for proper disposal, just like any other battery. End of eco-sermon!

Many folks regard the Aliph Jawbone to be one of the best Bluetooth headsets on the planet. I tend to agree, which is why I'm excited that eCost is offering the Jawbone for just $29.99 (after a $6 mail-in rebate).

Alas, that rebate (PDF) doesn't quite cover eCost's ridiculous $9.50 shipping charge, but even the final price of $39.49 is well below what you'll find elsewhere.

Renowned for its fashionable design and unparalleled noise-canceling capabilities, the Jawbone earned an four-star rating from CNET.

Users were a bit less enthusiastic, mostly due to the awkward fit and difficulty pressing the buttons. I use a Jawbone myself and agree with the criticisms, but also think that once you've managed to wiggle the sucker onto your ear, there's no better headset in terms of audio quality.

I know eCost has a less-than-stellar reputation, but I've purchased from them many times without incident. (Actually, there was one incident, but they resolved it quickly.) If you want a top-rated Bluetooth headset on the cheap, this is the deal to beat.

(Credit: AT&T)

From the Seems Too Good to Be True Dept. comes an intriguing offer: Wireless reseller LetsTalk is offering a free Xbox 360 Arcade console when you purchase an LG Shine phone (also free) and new 2-year AT&T service agreement. Catches? Yeah, there are a couple, but they're surprisingly minor.

Let's start with the phone. The LG Shine is a nice little slider that CNET rated 3.5 stars. It features quad-band and 3G support and a 2-megapixel camera, and it works with AT&T's nifty video-streaming service. The real plus is that you're getting it free from the get-go: no rebates required. Even shipping is free.

As for the Xbox, the deal works like this: After you sign up for service (which must be the $59.99/month plan or above--but I don't see any requirement for a data plan), you get a link to submission form (a PDF I've already procured for you). Wait 30 days after you get your phone, then complete the form and send it off with $19.95 to cover shipping. Your spiffy new Xbox should arrive "shortly thereafter."

Make sure to read all the fine print before you hop on this. For example, if you terminate your AT&T contract before the two years is up or switch to a less-expensive plan, you'll get billed $199.99 for the Xbox. My only real problem with this deal is that you have to send a cashier's check or money order for the S&H and provide a copy of a photo ID. That strikes me as a little weird. But everything else seems to be on the up-and-up, so if you're shopping for a new phone and wouldn't mind an Xbox to go with it, this looks mighty nice.

Thanks to reader Shawn for mentioning this deal!

Get LG's top-rated Vu free with contract. No rebates, no catches, just a smokin' deal.

(Credit: Wirefly)

Buy an LG Vu directly from AT&T and it'll cost you $300 (after rebate) with a two-year contract. Buy an LG Vu from Wirefly and it'll cost you zilch.

Well, for the phone anyway: contracts start at $39.99 monthly, not including a mandatory data plan ($15 or $35 monthly), and there's a $36 activation fee. However, you get a free Bluetooth headset and free shipping as part of the deal, and there's not a rebate in sight.

The touchscreen-powered Vu gives the iPhone a run for the money, at least in a few areas. It offers haptic feedback (meaning it vibrates when you press the screen), voice dialing, stereo Bluetooth, and AT&T's optional Mobile TV service (which is fantastic--just make sure you live or work in an area that has coverage).

I do have a few quibbles with this model, like the need to remove the battery to access the microSD slot, the nonstandard headphone jack, and the lack of GPS. That said, CNET liked the Vu quite well, as did users, who rated it four stars out of five on average.

To take advantage of this deal (which doesn't have an expiration date and therefore may end at any time), you need to be a new AT&T customer. Just head to the Wirefly.com site and search for "LG Vu."

(Credit: Aliph)

Sixth Avenue Electronics is clearing out first-generation Aliph red Jawbone headsets for the quite attractive price of $48.88 (plus an extremely reasonable $3.95 for shipping).

The last time I posted about this headset, it was $64 for a black one in OEM packaging.

Check that original post for more deets on the Jawbone. No time to click? I'll sum up: stylish design, killer noise-canceling technology, and somewhat awkward fit. It's far and away my favorite Bluetooth headset, and this is the best price I've seen. It's Wednesday only.

(Credit: Aliph)

Rumor has it Aliph will soon be releasing an updated version of its uber-popular Jawbone Bluetooth headset, but you can grab the original for just $64 (plus shipping)--a pretty solid deal considering that stores like Best Buy sell it for $129.

Renowned for its fashionable design and unparalleled noise-canceling capabilities, the Jawbone earned an 8.7 rating from CNET. Users were a bit less enthusiastic, mostly due to the awkward fit and difficulty pressing the buttons. I use a Jawbone myself and agree with the criticisms, but also think that once you've managed to wiggle the sucker onto your ear, there's no better headset in terms of audio quality.

The $64 price is for a new unit in OEM packaging, and you're limited to the black model; the silver and red versions cost $5 and $10 more, respectively.

(Credit: PQI)

Cell phones and smartphones increasingly rely on microSD media for added storage. A 2GB card would let you carry a few ripped movies, about 500 MP3s, loads of photos, countless documents, and so on. SuperMediaStore.com has a PQI 2GB microSD card on sale for just $8.99. No rebates, free shipping, beat that.

The card comes with a fairly important extra: an SD adapter so you can use it with the vast majority of media-card readers (few of which have microSD slots). It even comes in a retail package, so it qualifies for PQI's lifetime warranty. Pretty sweet deal if you want some cheap storage for your phone. If I didn't already have a 2GB card in my Palm Centro, you can bet I'd be snapping one up in a (sorry) flash.

(Credit: CNET)

In the market for a new smartphone? Consider the T-Mobile Dash, a quad-band handset that compares favorably with the Motorola Q. LetsTalk.com has a pretty sweet deal going:

T-Mobile Dash: Free.

1GB microSD card: Free.

Shipping: Free.

Rebates: Up to $100.

Specifically, you automatically qualify for a $50 mail-in rebate on the phone, but you can get another $50 if you sign up for a $39.99-monthly (or higher) service plan and a $19.99-monthly data plan (fairly standard items for smartphone users anyway).

CNET and CNET readers alike had generally good things to say about the Dash, rating it in the 7-out-of-10 ballpark. Personally, I'm not a big fan of non-touchscreen Windows Mobile smartphones, but there's no denying the Dash packs a ton of power at a pretty unbeatable price.

(Credit: Motorola)

If you're still walking around with your cell phone glued to your ear, here's your chance to walk around looking like you're talking to yourself instead. Office Depot has the Motorola H350 Bluetooth headset for $4.99 (plus shipping) after a $35 mail-in rebate.

This isn't a top-of-the-line headset--user reviews on CNET and Amazon seem to peg it as only a hair above average--but did I mention the $4.99 price tag? Curiously, the Office Depot product listing describes an entirely different headset and doesn't include a link to the rebate form (a PDF, FYI), which may raise a red flag for some.

If you decide to order the headset anyway (or bop into your local Office Depot), make sure to hurry: The rebate offer expires March 15.