African
smartphone
users will soon
have an
alternative
means to get
round the power
shortages
afflicting much of
the world's
poorest
continent - a
portable charger
that relies on
hydrogen fuel
cells.
British company
Intelligent
Energy plans to
roll out 1 million
of the new
chargers in mid-
December, mainly
in Nigeria and
South Africa,
after
successfully
testing them in
Nigeria over the
last five months,
its consumer
electronics
managing
director, Amar
Samra, said.
"In emerging
markets where
the grids are not
reliable and
people are using
(mobile phones)
as a primary
device, it is
mission critical; if
you're out, you're
out," Samra said
on the sidelines
of a telecoms
conference in
Cape Town.
The chargers are
designed to back
up the spread of
smartphones and
tablets across
countries where
cellphones have
already helped to
transform lives
and businesses.
Industry body
GSMA, which
represents about
800 of the
world's mobile
operators, said in
its latest report
that
smartphones
were key to
boosting mobile
Internet access
in sub-Saharan
Africa where
current
penetration of 4
percent of the
population lags
the global
average of 17
percent.
Ericsson predicts
that smartphone
traffic in Africa
will increase
tenfold between
2013 and 2019,
when around 476
million devices
will be in use.
"Alternative
sources of power
are very
important,
because
smartphones and
other devices
need lots of
power and you
need to charge
up every four
hours, so for a
businessman it is
crucial," said
Melvin Angula, an
engineer
attending the
conference.
The hydrogen
chargers, which
fit easily into a
handbag, consist
of a fuel cell and
a non-disposable
cartridge that
can be detached
when exhausted.

coming soon!... whats your view?...

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