DoCoMo invests in fuel cell company

MANHASSET, N.Y. — Japan-based mobile phone company NTT DoCoMo Inc. has announced it would acquire a 36.5 percent stake in Japanese fuel cell company Aquafairy, and form an alliance to develop handsets powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Both companies are developing a micro fuel cell recharger for NTT DoCoMo's 3G FOMA handsets, using Aquafairy's hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Fuel cell development continues to mushroom as suppliers of consumer and portable products look for alternatives to conventional batteries, which suffer from relatively short life and long recharging time. Almost all mobile phones now use lithium-ion batteries.

Based on Osaka, Aquafairy was formed in 2006 and has 11 employees.