Global power technology firm Intelligent Energy has launched a personal energy device for charging and powering USB-compatible portable electronic devices.
Branded Upp, the charger can be used with smartphones, feature phones, eReaders, tablets, portable gaming consoles, as well as digital cameras. With billions of USB devices used by consumers worldwide, Upp delivers at least one week of charge even to the most demanding, power-hungry smartphones.
Building on innovative fuel cell technology, Intelligent Energy has chosen Africa to launch this empowering portable energy product. With the ability to charge and power as fast as the mains, Upp helps to power mobile commerce and connectivity within the region, providing instant energy on-the-go.
The device features an Intelligent Auto Shutoff that conserves energy and protects the battery life of the electronic device it is charging. In addition, the Upp mobile app, which is free for both iOS and Android devices, provides predictive usage statistics as well as user profile information to enable better management of fuel levels.
“Upp represents a new category of energy device, and are excited about the transformational implications for the portable electronics market and the consumer,” said Henri Winand, CEO of Intelligent Energy. “With the growing demand for portable devices, mobile and cloud services, consumers want the energy independence to keep their devices connected and powered-up all the time.”
Commenting on the pent-up demand in the region for extended uptime of portable devices, Amar Samra, Managing Director of Consumer Electronics, Intelligent Energy said: “This year, we have carried out successful consumer field deployments in the region and are now in the process of expanding and recruiting further mobile partners worldwide. We believe Upp is a real game changer for Africa.
“Batteries need help: their capabilities haven’t kept pace with innovation in smart connected portable devices. Given that 75% of the global population relies on the mobile phone to stay connected, the more you want to do with your device, the more energy you need. Consumers need a reliable source of personal and portable energy, and Upp gives you that critical uptime when you really need it.”
The Upp fuel cell takes hydrogen provided by the Upp fuel cartridge and combines it with air to produce clean electricity with water vapour as a by-product. Users simply need to connect the fuel cell to a replaceable fuel cartridge to experience instant energy for their devices. In addition to the fuel cartridge being replaceable, Intelligent Energy has adopted a socially responsible approach to fuel replenishment, by enabling the reuse of each cartridge multiple times.
According to the GSMA, mobile phone subscriptions have risen to 475mn from 90mn in sub-Saharan Africa within the past seven years, and worldwide the number of subscriptions has passed 6.5bn. Upp is designed from the ground up to address the needs of global consumers who rely on their mobile devices for productivity, leisure and livelihood and will be initially rolled out in December 2013.
