Japan's Toshiba launches fuel cell for mobiles

TOKYO Oct 22 (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp's (6502.T: 行情) new fuel cell, to begin shipping next week, may point to a growth area in mobile electronics for the power packs, whose use in the auto sector has been stymied.

A direct methanol fuel cell -- which converts wood alcohol and water into an electric current -- can keep cellphones and even laptops running for longer and can be recharged in seconds, freeing users on the go from a desperate hunt for wall sockets.

Toshiba, which has been researching such fuel cells since the 1990s but has hithertoo postponed commercialisation, said on Thursday its palm-sized Dynario runs on injections of methanol packaged in cartridges and can triple most cellphones' battery life.

But with the fuel cell priced at 29,800 yen ($328) and each set of five fuel cartridges at 3,150 yen ($35), Toshiba said it was first looking to win orders in Japan for 3,000 units in the week to Oct. 29, when shipment starts.

Toshiba, which is also developing batteries for use in hybrid and electric vehicles, would compete with U.S. company Medis Technologies (MDTL.PK: 行情) in the United States and Germany's SFC Smart Fuel Cell (F3CG.DE: 行情) in mobile fuel cells. (Reporting by Mayumi Negishi; Editing by David Holmes) ($1=90.92 Yen)