I am new at this, so bear with me.  After reading some of the other reviews out there, I decided that I needed to say something.  I have an older GE.  I am guessing about 15 years old. It is a 900Mhz unit.  I tend to leave the handset on the charge/base unit, while not at home.  I would say, that in order for the battery to perform at it's best, would be to take the handset off the base, turn off the ringer, and leave it there until you get home.  Leaving the ringer on will also drain the battery.  Why leave it one when your not there?   I sometimes take it with me to my recliner where I watch the news and such.  One of the other reviewers, was apparently right about using the phone for about an hour, then putting it back on the base/charger.  That does it no good.  I am currently in the process of having to get a new battery.  I opened the back of the phone to see, that I have a Sanyo brand 3.6V at 650mAh.  Knowing that my phone is no longer made, will I be able to acquire the same model. Should I call GE, or Radio Shack, or just buy one off of ebay?  I see one listed, but it states it is 700mAh.  Will that hurt my phone?  If you have the owners manual, or the original battery that came with it, then get the model specified.  Why take chances?  If you are still unsure, then call the manufacture.  I would think that most of them have a toll free number that you can call. 

I hope that this made you think, and that it did some good...