NTT DoCoMo Solar Cellphone

Japanese cellphone carrier and supplier NTT DoCoMo says it has developed a uniquely solar-powered cellphone prototype. Using a combination of thin photovoltaic cells on the outer shell and an energy-efficient chipset, the as-yet unnamed phone can run entirely on solar power, escaping the need for batteries altogether. If put into production, the phone would still retain most of the features of a contemporary handset such as Internet access and messaging, according to NTT DoCoMo. The current form also encourages callers to save battery life during idle periods by including a conspicuous power button. While no plans have been announced to ship the phone as-is, the prototype is functionally complete and likely points to future handsets that rely partly or completely on solar energy. Larger photos follow after the jump courtesy of T3.

By Electronista Staff