A power source is configured to notify an external monitoring device of a
condition such as a low power condition of the power source. The power
source has an associated controller that monitors the condition of the
power source. The power source receives a first threshold condition for a
power source, establishes a communications channel with an external
monitoring device, transmits a notification related to the first
threshold condition of the power source to the external monitoring device
through the communications channel and discontinues the established
communications channel based on a reception condition of the external
monitoring device. The controller terminates notification after reception
of an acknowledgment sent by the external monitoring device or after an
elapsed time. The communications channel can be a wireless communications
channels or can be a network such as the Internet.