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Samsung Blue Earth solar cell phone, saving the planet one call at a time
Samsung jumps onto the green bandwagon with this Blue Earth cell phone, equipped with a solar panel on the back that'll charge it up any time you're out in the sunshine. You do go out in the sunshine, don't you, readers? Inside or out, sunny day or not, we think it's a nice-looking phone, and certainly an improvement over older solar cell phones we've seen.
Samsung's not stopping with just that neato solar panel. The company's gone all-out with its greenatude, making the phone out of recycled plastic, adding a energy efficient charger for those cloudy days or homebody phone talkers, and even stuffing it all into recycled packaging.
Look for the Samsung Blue Earth to ship sometime in the second half of this year, and in the meantime, see if you can find a pair of pants with pockets that somehow let the sun shine onto a cell phone nestled within.
Ubergizmo, via Pocket Lint
By HereAndNow at 5:53 PM ON 02/13/09
Cool! This should become a standard option for all mobile phones, assuming the solar cells recharge the batteries.
I can see it being useful for:
1. people in developing countries that may not always have easy access to an electric outlet.
2. anyone who is outdoors for extended periods of time (campers, hikers, ...).
3. travelers who forgot their chargers.
By rocker13 at 6:01 PM ON 02/13/09
i think that if this phone's touchscreen, JUST the touchscreen not above and below it, slid up then there was a full keyboard i would SO buy it!!!!!!!
By pwnrzero at 6:30 PM ON 02/13/09
thre is a touchscreen, no qwerty keyboard
By Dave at 7:09 PM ON 02/13/09
I wish Samsung made cars!
By Stop Smoking Hypnosis at 11:06 PM ON 02/13/09
Definitely a step in the right direction. Hopefully competitors will pick up on the idea.
By Xanapus at 4:31 AM ON 02/14/09
I bought a travel solar charger that plugs into all these different cell phones and ipods and just general gadgets that will recharge it with the sun. You actually have to charge the solar charger up before using it to charge something and it could take hours to charge it with the sun lol.
This cell phone with the solar cells on the outside is a good idea but what about those people who use blue tooth ear pieces? The phones are stuck inside pockets and purses during the phone calls. Or if you are using the phone your hand is covering the solar cells.
Perhaps if you have a window office then you can keep your cell phone laying on the desk or table in front of the window where the sun is shining, that is if you have an office with eastern or western exposure.
By Idealo News at 5:16 AM ON 02/16/09
I love the idea, just stick the phone in the window during work and pick up a call whenever. Come on Apple, follow suit.
By Art at 3:13 PM ON 02/22/09
Does it mean that in order to take use of solar technology you have to place your cell face down and get the screen scratched? No, thank you.
By who me? at 4:53 AM ON 03/03/09
this is cool. can't wait to have it.
By ChynahMoon at 2:59 PM ON 03/18/09
How much do you think it will retail for?
By Perkele at 2:35 AM ON 08/18/09
But, I think, not necessarily you need to charge your cell ONLY by solar energy, you could also have the chance of charge it in the typical way. don't you think?? ahh
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Perkele:
But, I think, not necessarily you need to charge your cell ONLY by solar energy, you could also have the chance of ...More »