14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia and Motorola have both seen the potential of solar powered mobile phones and have had two patents granted for such devices. A handset using light to recharge its battery has already been released, but the interest that main mobile phone producers show gives hopes for seeing more such handsets at reach.
The main advantage that such a technology would present for mobile phone producers and buyers too is that it would enable the development of lighter and smaller phones. The battery occupies a huge amount of internal space and also adds to the mobile phone's weight. Switching to alternative solutions could mean a breakthrough in phone development and design.
Nokia looks to develop self-powered billboards, for recharging the phone. Motorola, on the other hand, has thought of building a liquid crystal display (LCD) that incorporates a solar panel behind the screen of a phone. The LCD plays both the role of a display and that of a light collecting device for the solar cell. The combination considerably reduces sizes and adds on the functionality level.
The patent still holds several disadvantages which prevent it from becoming available for release any time in the near future. Placing the solar panel behind the LCD screen makes a great amount of the sun light go to waste, as the display absorbs most of it. Moreover, it comes with a slightly reflective look, which makes it difficult to view the images displayed on the screen.
The world has already received its first solar powered phone model with the release of the Chinese S116, earlier this year. Having the main handset producers involved themselves in the development and releasing such a technology at a large scale could mean adding some quality in the products. Moreover, mobile phones could become highly more reliable, with no battery to die when needed most and also become considerably lighter.