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Break free from wires – The Guardian reports that Nokia is testing a mobile phone prototype that charges itself, by harvesting ambient radio waves from the environment.

The Nokia Research Centre in Cambridge estimates it will take three to five years to develop the technology, before the phone hits the market.

Standby mode is often accused of being the scourge of the planet, insidiously draining resources while offering little benefit other than a small red light and extra convenience for couch potatoes. But now Nokia reckons a mobile phone that is always left in standby mode could be just what the environment needs.

A new prototype charging system from the company is able to power itself on nothing more than ambient radio waves – the weak TV, radio and mobile phone signals that permanently surround us. The power harvested is small but it is almost enough to power a mobile in standby mode indefinitely without ever needing to plug it into the mains.