Having your cellphone battery going dead in the middle of an important call can be annoying, at least. Here are some easy steps for you to take in order to maximize the life of your cellphone battery:

* Know what type of battery you have. Since most newer phones run off of lithium-ion batteries, the rest of the steps apply to this type. If you use a different type of battery, ask your cell phone service how to extend its life.

* Condition your new battery by first running it very low, then charging until fully charged. Do this for the first three charging cycles to make your battery more efficient.

* After the conditioning period, partially charge your battery. Smaller, frequent charges can help extend the life of your battery better than extended charges will.

* To get the most time between charges, reduce the number of applications that you run on your phone. This means turning off Bluetooth, staying away from games and the Internet, reducing screen brightness and eliminating extra sounds like button tones.

* For long-term storage, store the battery in a dry, cool place at about a 40 percent charge.

* Avoid leaving your phone plugged in after it's charged. The excess heat can damage your battery!