Nokia Corp. (Finland) announced that it's putting off plans to develop phones powered by fuel cells. Phones using such a device would have more electricity available to run power-hungry applications like games and television, and would operate much longer on a single charge. Fuel cells also recharge quickly on a boost of gas, much the same way a cigarette lighter gets refilled.
Nokia executives, including Chief Executive Jorma Ollila indicated in the past that fuel cells were a promising area of development, and in 2004 the company demonstrated a handset powered by methanol, and said it could be available commercially by 2006. However, concerns over how the methanol would be distributed - and whether methanol-powered phones would be allowed on airplanes - are now leading the company to put plans on hold for several years.
