In another example embodiment, a battery powered mobile device has a battery and a battery monitoring circuit that measures one or more parameters indicative of a current state of the battery. A plurality of operational systems and processes form a part of the mobile device. A programmed processor is programmed to carry out a process that involves: determining a current state of the battery by receiving data representing the one or more parameters from the battery monitoring circuit indicative of the current state of the battery; calculating a battery power factor as a function of the parameter; comparing the battery power factor to a threshold; when the battery power factor exceeds the threshold, identifying a system or process within the mobile device whose power consumption can be reduced; and reducing the power consumption by altering or disabling the identified system or process.