Abstract: A power management unit (40) for a portable electronic apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is powered by at least a battery (42), and the power management unit is implemented as an integrated circuit.

Abstract: An integrated local communication system comprising a plurality of locally-positioned communication devices, at least one of which locally-positioned communication devices is operably coupled to a local interface module. A local communication link is selectably effectuated between any two locally-positioned communication devices via at least one local interface module by transforming a non-local communication signal into a local communication signal and transceiving the local communication signal using a single preselected communication protocol that is common to all local communication links. An exemplary embodiment may include at least one mobile station associated with a Public Land Mobile Network, at least one radio-enhanced phone interfacing device associated with a Public Switching Telephone Network, at least one electronic data terminal selectably disposed in a distributed computing environment, and at least one wireless headset for hands-free operability.