Techniques for conserving power by controlling program execution in a
convergence device comprising a battery or other power source and at
least one processor. The processor is configured to perform processing
operations associated with voice call communication functions and to
perform processing operations associated with data communication
functions, and is operative to execute critical programs and noncritical
programs. The convergence device stores, for at least a given one of a
plurality of noncritical programs associated with the data communication
functions, an identifier of at least one alternate capacity program
capable of performing substantially the same function as the given
program but having a different power source capacity associated
therewith. Based at least in part on a power indicator representative of
remaining capacity or another characteristic of the power source,
execution of the given program may be replaced with execution of the
alternate capacity program, such that an amount of power source capacity
utilizable for the voice call communication functions is increased.