A battery charger and method for communicating battery pack charging status information of a battery pack coupled to both the battery charger and an electronic device such as a radio is presented. An authenticity battery pack identifier and battery status information provided by the battery pack to the battery charger is read. The authenticity battery pack identifier and charging status information is transmitted over a wireless link from the battery charger to the radio. The charging status information is then processed by the radio when the authenticity battery pack identifier matches a currently coupled battery pack identifier stored on the radio. The currently coupled battery pack identifier identifies the battery pack that is coupled to the radio.