Bloom invented fuel cell, but many phone companies are now turning to fuel cells. Phone companies have decided to develop fuel cells as they are environmental friendly, make less noise and are a less expensive replacement for backup diesel generators.

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse revealed Sprint has been developing 250 hydrogen fuel cells at cell sites. Sprint possesses 15 hydrogen fuel cell patents, and started installing fuel cells since 2005. The phone company last April received a $7.3 million fund from the Energy Dept. to increase its fuel cell project and bolster the time as fuel cells could give backup power from 15 hours to 72.

PCG Clean Energy & Technology Fund, Robeco, oak Investment Partners, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital, Enterprise Partners Venture Capital, and Wall Street Technology Partners have helped Avista to make polymerelectrolyte membrane fuel cells in the 300-watt to 12-kilowatt for commercial backup power.

Munich’s hydrogen-powered electrochemical cell maker P21 are also turning to fuel cells for the backup power market. In May 2009, P21 increased €10 million from Yellow & Blue Investment Management, Target Partners, and Conduit Ventures.

Google, Bank of America, Wal-Mart and other large firms have been examining the devices, which will be launched on Wednesday.