Portable power for your iPhone: $9.99 shipped

Update: Looks like this is sold out already. You can find what looks to be an identical battery (in black) for $17.99 from HandHelditems--where you'll also find some very positive user reviews.

Until Apple sees fit to outfit iPhones and iPods with user-replaceable batteries (meaning never), travelers have no choice but to pack battery packs.

After all, the last thing you want in the middle of your playlist, movie, game, e-book, or audiobook is a dead battery. (It's not real convenient when you need to make a call, either.)

Meritline has a Mobile Power Station Battery for iPhone and iPod for $9.99. That's after applying coupon code MLC262362. Shipping is free.

What's the big deal about this particular battery? In a word: capacity. The Mobile Power Station packs a 1,900mAh lithium ion cell, which should power your device for--let's see, carry the one--ever.

OK, not forever, but a mighty long time. To put this in some perspective, the $10.99 iPhone battery pack I wrote up last April has an 800mAh battery. The $80 Energizer AP1500 I reviewed last month tops out at 1,200mAh.

Needless to say, a 1,900mAh battery should outlast them all. And for only 10 bucks! (I might just grab two.)

A couple caveats. First, Meritline ships from Hong Kong, so plan on waiting a good two weeks or so for delivery. Second, I've heard from several readers who aren't happy with Meritline's customer service, mostly because of lost or delayed shipments. I've never had a problem with them, but I wanted to pass along the concerns.

Of course, if you're looking for supplemental power because your iPhone barely lasts a day anymore, consider replacing its internal battery. That's something you can do yourself for as little as $6.

What do you think? Is this the battery deal of the century (hey, it's been a fairly short century), or does it sound too good to be true?