Nokia withdraws from Japan

Nokia, the world's leading mobile phone maker, said last week it would stop selling and marketing its mobile devices in Japan because its market share there remains below expectations, reports Yahoo.

"In the current global economic climate, we have concluded that the continuation of our investment in Japan-specific product variants is no longer sustainable," said Timo Ihamuotila, executive VP of Nokia, in a statement.

However, sales of the Vertu luxury mobile phones, a brand owned by Nokia, will continue in Japan, the Finnish company said.

US researchers reported recently that mobile phone calls distract drivers far more than even the chattiest passenger, causing drivers to follow too closely and miss exits, says Reuters.

Using a hands-free device does not make things better and the researchers believe they know why - passengers act as a second set of eyes, shutting up or sometimes even helping when they see the driver needs to make a manoeuvre.

The research, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, adds to a growing body of evidence that mobile phones can make driving dangerous.

Laptop, cellphone and iPod owners tired of having their devices run out of charge after a few hours have been patiently waiting for the next portable power source to arrive, says the Associated Press.

Tiny fuel cells, powered by combustible liquids or gases, have long been touted as the eventual solution; potentially, they could power a laptop for days between refills.

But fuel cells have perennially remained a year or two away from reaching the market as companies have worked on making them small, cheap and long-lasting, while making sure they don't overheat.