The micro fuel cell is aimed at meeting user demands for more convenient handsets with greater power capacity, as well as reduced environmental impact.

Power consumption demands are rising as FOMA users take advantage of new services and handset features, including flat-rate monthly billing for data services, such as i-motion™ and i-appli™, and videophone. DoCoMo is addressing this issue in part by increasing the capacity of its lithium-ion batteries, the most commonly used battery in handsets today.

The micro fuel cell is a standalone device shaped like a cradle for recharging handsets. It generates electric power by combining hydrogen and cheap, environmentally harmless methanol to produce a chemical reaction. Hydrogen ions are extracted from the air via a layer sandwiched between positive and negative electrodes.

The prototype has the same basic specifications of other FOMA handset rechargers and will be compatible with all FOMA handsets. Further development of the prototype is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2005.

Please see the attachment for the main specifications.
Attachment

Main Specifications of Prototype Micro Fuel Cell
Height x width x thickness  152 x 57 x 16 mm
Size (volume)  180 cc
Weight  190 grams
Fuel  Methanol (18 cc, 30% concentration)
Number of Recharges  1 per methanol cartridge
Design  Desktop holder
Output  5.4 V, 700 mA
(same as other FOMA rechargers)
 

About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company, serving more than 48 million customers. The company offers a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services, including i-mode®, which provides e-mail and internet access to over 42 million subscribers as the world's most popular mobile internet service, and FOMA®, launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe and North America, the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit www.nttdocomo.com.

FOMA, i-motion and i-mode are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.
NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is available only to subscribers in Japan.
i-appli is a trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan.