A cellular phone has, in addition to an antenna, speaker and microphone, a device interface capable of transmitting electronic information between the cellular phone and an electronic device, such as a computer or modem, when the device is physically connected to the cellular phone. The cellular phone also has a battery pack. The battery pack has, in addition to a battery for powering the cellular phone, an infrared port for transmitting infrared information between the cellular phone and an electronic device with infrared capability. The infrared port is connected to an infrared converter, which is connected to the device interface. The infrared converter converts electronic information to infrared information for transmission between the cellular phone and the device over the infrared port. Existing cellular phones can be upgraded to obtain the ability to communicate with electronic devices over an infrared port by replacing the conventional battery pack contained in the existing cellular phone with an infrared battery pack of the type shown in the various embodiments of the invention.