Apparatus and method to minimize power usage by electronic devices. In a particular disclosed example, the battery power of a remote handset is reduced by extending the sniff period of a cordless telephone when the remote handset is remote from its base unit and the user is not likely to use the cordless telephone (e.g., when away from the house or when asleep). A low power mode module causes the electronic device, e.g., the remote handset of a cordless telephone, to remain in an extended low power STANDBY mode, or to extends the period of the periodic transition to a receive only STANDBY mode to check status registers at the base unit, at appropriate times. In one embodiment, a low power mode table contains entries defining periods of time during which the remote handset may transition between the low power STANDBY mode and the receive only STANDBY mode. The remote handset transitions to a fully powered transmit/receive (TDD) ON mode, e.g., in response to an appropriate status condition, or in response to the activation of a particular button or sequence of buttons at the remote handset. The extended STANDBY mode may alternatively be activated in response to input from an external device such as a home security system indicating that the user of the cordless telephone is not willing or able to answering any incoming telephone calls. The extended STANDBY mode may also be entered upon determination by the cordless telephone that the telephone line is already in use by another extension (thereby rendering unlikely any receipt of a ring signal condition from the base unit).