In the cutting edge Japanese mobile market, both DoCoMo and KDDI have been sponsoring development of fuel cell technology to provide longer battery life for mobile phones. DoCoMo and Fujitsu laboratories displayed a somewhat over sized prototype back in July.
Now KDDI is displaying a much more realistic prototype at CEATEC Japan 2005 this week. As KDDI announced last week, they have partnered with Toshiba and Hitachi for two different fuel-cell-powered mobile phone prototypes which are now on display in the KDDI booth at CEATEC. The Toshiba prototype is based on the A5509T handset. Hitachi's is based on their W32H handset.
Wireless Watch Japan has covered the story and taken this picture of the back of the modified Hitachi W32H handset. One fill up (with methanol) provides 2.5 times longer operation. Then it can be refilled, assuming you're carrying some spare methanol.
Yes, some issues come to mind !!
- What are the chances I can take this phone on an airplane???
- How and where can I carry spare fuel, i.e. a bottle or tank of methanol??
- Look at the vent holes. How warm is this thing?
None-the-less, it appears fuel cells for mobile devices will be real in Japan in the next year or two. If so, we can expect them in EU & US a year or two later. I certainly have a number of mobile devices that would benefit from 2.5x battery life and the possibility of a refill while on the go.
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