Search for better phone power

The more functions cell phone manufacturers add, the greater the amount of power the phones use and the less practical running them on lithium batteries becomes -- so the race to find a viable alternative is on. From CNN.

"Two of the world's biggest electronics makers, Hitachi and Toshiba, are currently competing against each other to come up with an alternative, most likely to be micro fuel cells.

Miniaturized direct methanol fuel cells are different batteries in that they create power instead of simply storing it.

That power is made by new technology utilizing cheap methanol.

If all goes to plan, come 2007, Japanese phone users will not use an electric charger to power their mobiles, they will instead carry a small bottle of methanol and with just a few squirts, they will have power for their phones.

But the method has its downsides, including how passengers will be able to take small amounts of flammable methanol on airliners.

Negotiations are already underway with authorities to get around current restrictions."

emily | 6:30 PM | Technology |
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