According to The Times, Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola have all invented radiation shields despite playing down the risk of health problems from handset use. The paper says evidence from the Wireless Consumer Alliance shows the earliest patent applications may have been filed as long ago as 1993. The applications, lodged in the US, reportedly emphasise 'suggestions' that phones may expose consumers to radio frequency irradiation - something that could lead to malignant tumours. Nokia has responded to the report by saying there is no contradiction in it developing and patenting the new components while maintaining there is no risk. A third of our employees are engaged in research and development and it is a natural course of business that they then file for patents.
Scientific opinion remains divided over whether the threat is real.
The latest research by the British Medical Association again failed to produce any hard evidence.