Japanese company NEC shown a good-looking prototype of a mobile phone with a fuel-cell. If executed well it could be the real iPhone killer.
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Mobile devices are warm-welcomed in all parts of the world and sale is fuelled with more and services that mobile operators offer to customers. With the changes in technology the main problem shifted from electronics to power demands. Audio and video contest are "natural enemies" to battery life and several companies are looking for another type of batteries that will replace today standard Li-ion batteries.
Back in 2001. Manhattan Scientific started a research that could lead to fuel-cell batteries, the devices that are powered by hydrogen. (If Manhattan reminds you of something, you have good memory: The headquarters were near the place where the first atomic bomb is built.) In the following years other companies entered similar research and among them the Japanese showed the significant progress. NTT DoCoMo and KDDI, the two largest mobile communications carriers in Japan, showed their prototypes at Wireless Japan Expo 2005.
The researchers weren't at sleep at NEC, a Japan’s industry giant, which recently showed its prototype of a mobile phone powered by fuel cell. That is the part of NEC’s Future Design strategy that is focused on devices that are in some way revolutionary, but NEC Flask will be in the wild by the end of the year, says company. The new mobile phone is interesting in many ways. For one, it looks like a bit larger lighter with a transparent case and refilling part at the top. The case is transparent because the user will be able to see how much "battery" he has left. That design naturally leads to a device that is attractive to young people and for those who want a fashion statement device.
Following the today’s technology trends it is fairy safe to assume that NEC Flask will have a touch-screen, at least in some other incarnation, and that it will offer the basic capabilities of calls and short text messages. The transparent case in several colours may also be welcomed addition to gaming experience. The similar design style we already seen at NEC Votol.
We don’t know what kind of technology for "battery" will be used, but judging by Canadian company Angstrom Power that claims that their fuel battery, that will find its place in Motorola mobile phone, is perfectly safe, there’s no reason to doubt in NEC’s "hit the market" date. Although there are very few information about Flask, sheer announcement that the device will be available on the market speaks for itself. We can expect the technology that is safe enough to allow the Flask on the airplane or place like stadium. If that won’t be the case, the emerging markets are large enough to accommodate the new mobile phone.
The young people will certainly welcome a new device, regarding of country, so if NEC delivers, the buyers will follow. We don't know yet where we will be buying the refills or where the "fuelling stations" for hydrogen will be, if that's the fuel to be used, but it is safe to assume that NEC have that problem solved, too. Current state of technology say us that fuel-cell battery may last twice as long as standard Li-ion battery with refill time of just 10 minutes.
It may be an interesting process, as I recall from early years in my school. The chemistry class was very popular, especially when electrolysis was involved. You put some water in the jar, a spoon of salt in it, and two wires in it connected to a battery. Than something miraculous happens and you have a cloud of hydrogen around cathode. Bring in the match and boom! We didn't care what's going on and why, as long as we have enough hydrogen for the final boom. Looking back, I may say that we were lucky to have a professor with us because our experiments will very probable end with a few bricks on the ground as a symbol of the school that once was.
So, it is fairy safe to assume that NEC Flask will be success and we are eager to see the technical features list. Will it be able to play MP3 songs and MP4 videos (very likely)? In the first we are almost certain, the second is very likely. To remind you, the fuel-cell batteries are aimed just at that: The multimedia content that require lots of energy. If executed well, we could be seeing the real iPhone killer. ■
Under an intense surge of arctic air, Friday morning will begin with the coldest temperatures so far this season across much of the central and eastern U.S. with blustery conditions and a piercing wind chill.
