It is rechargeable. Usually take it in work once a week and charge it up for a couple of hours. The microphone is a "flip up" that comes out of the front. It also has a 12v lead so can be run from the *** socket. You can also dial numbers from the keypad once it is paired with your phone. I got it more as gizzmo, as the wife describes me as "gadget man", but it does what it says on the tin !! I don't tend to get many calls while i'm mobile, if i did i would have probably gone for something dearer and more practical (i.e. located it somewhere more accessible). The main reason i got it was that the dimensions matched exactly the cubby hole in the dash that i didnt have a use for.When i first saw it i cut a piece of cardboard to the exact same dimensions and tried it in the hole, bingo a perfect fit.... The two shutters that cover the hole close up against it and it looks like it is part of the dash.