A new research study released by Strategy Analytics indicates that even though mobile phone batteries continue to evolve and improve, they still cannot keep pace with the evolution of the devices.
In its "Cell Phone Energy Gap: Desperately Seeking Solutions" study, the group said battery capacity has increased only four percent per year over the past three years. The problem is that web browsing -- which continues to grow in popularity as more phone users begin to pay for data plans -- will use up to 30 percent battery life in just five years.
“Strategy Analytics predicts a 4.8% per year reduction in the Average Time Between Charges (ATBC) in cellphones between now and 2015," according to Strategy Analytics Handset Component Technologies director Stuart Robinson. Much of this is due to the growing penetration of features like web browsing, navigation and social networking. Speed-charging solutions using ultra-capacitors will not increase the total energy stored in cellphone batteries, but may ease the pain associated with having to recharge more often."
Battery manufacturers are working with phone makers to try and develop new technologies that offer both faster recharge times and longer battery life. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other universities are also working on new battery technologies.
The growing popularity of smartphones is great for manufacturers and phone service providers, but the demand for additional apps, Web browsing, and similar tasks will only continue to take their toll on phone battery life.
The group believes Silver Zing and Hydrogen Fuel Cell batteries will eventually replace the widely use Lithium Ion batteries many phones have today.
Aside from the topic of battery longevity, I've read reports of wireless phone chargers in development, which is something I'd be very interested in utilizing in the future. The ability to have my phone battery recharging without physically plugging it into a charger is something I've long wanted, especially while traveling.
