Samsung unveils solar powered cellphone

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In a world where power efficiency and 'clean' energy are becoming more important, it's no wonder companies are beginning to employ new ways to keep their devices powered. Samsung is another company helping Mother Nature, as they have just revealed their new cellphone -- the difference? It's powered by the sun.

Pocket-Lint is reporting that Samsung's new phone, dubbed 'Blue Earth', is a fully touchscreen device that is, uniquely, designed to "symbolize a flat and well rounded shiny pebble". It features a solar panel on the back of the phone, used to charge it. This may be quite possibly the most environment friendly phone made so far; it's even made of recycled plastic, which comes from water bottles, and is free of any harmful substances, like Brominated Flame Retardants, Beryllium and Phthalate.

Not only this, but even the OS on the phone is pro-environment. For example, it features a pedometer which calculates how much CO2 you have saved by walking, rather than taking a car. The phone is said to generate enough electricity to power a phone call any time desired. To top it all off, even the packaging itself is recycled.

Check out some images of the phone below.

The phone is due out in the UK in the second half of 2009, so keep an eye out for it later this year.

#1 Brandon on 12 Feb 2009 - 23:27

Now that is sweet

#2 Obry on 12 Feb 2009 - 23:44

That's really cool... sucks my job involves me sitting at a desk inside an office most of the day... I can use some solar energy too... live in Florida and I'm so white it's not even funny

#3 MarcoDigi on 13 Feb 2009 - 00:46

This sh*t had better be marked as Type 1 or Type 2 plastic ;\

Seriously tho, good stuff. I feel they overdid it a little on the CO2 calculator, but who wouldn't love solar-powered? Just so long as it works well...

#4 Majesticmerc on 13 Feb 2009 - 00:54

I applaud their effort, I think it's a fantastic innovation. However, I'm a little sceptical as to whether a device that sits in one's pocket for 90% of the day has a use for solar panels.

#5 Daninku on 13 Feb 2009 - 01:00

Yay for a cleaner energy, yay for Samsung and others who follow the same way.

(1 reply) #6 Rolith on 13 Feb 2009 - 01:04

See...this is my problem with 90% of "green products"

New, high power effiency cellphone? - AWESOME
New, built in solar panels able to charge while talking/walking or sitting out on desk at office - AWESOME
New, Recycled materials based frame and sleek design? - Looks awesome to me!
Built In Pedometer with handy tracking software included - nifty, done before, but hey.

Ego boosting software that gives inflated numbers about "saved trees"? No thanks. Just make a BETTER PRODUCT and people WILL BUY IT. That included green products. If you've got to resort to stroking the consumer's eco-penis to get them to buy you're product, you're doing it wrong.

#6.1 MarcoDigi on 13 Feb 2009 - 01:23

+1. Although I consider recycling a good thing, I personally never bought into the fad of stroking one's eco-penis. I just like a better product.

#7 Digix on 13 Feb 2009 - 01:27

idea is good just hope it's able to actually live up to it.

#8 Ledward on 13 Feb 2009 - 03:08

I don't see how those PV cells can get enough sunlight- the only time when I could leave it on a window sill for example is on weekends and at night.

#9 Shadrack on 13 Feb 2009 - 05:10

Way to lead the way Samsung! I too would like to see how well this thing works in practice. I've always loved Samsung products.

#10 rakeshishere on 13 Feb 2009 - 08:21

Does it come with a charger? Or should i keep it under the sun

#11 Kam1kaz3 on 13 Feb 2009 - 13:08

Humm, can we put the phone on a pocket?

#12 dogmai79 on 13 Feb 2009 - 16:07

I'm glad I have the sun in my pocket. Do you? It can get a little hot sometimes. I used to have to replace my pants because the pockets would burn and my phone would just drop through. Now I just take my pants and put a fire retardant in the lining of the pockets before wearing them the first time. Now I can get the phone but do they have any accessories to prevent the phone from getting burnt too? lol

I love the idea. the phone looks okay and I'm glad they're working their way towards eco-friendly devices but I don't see how it could work. It better charge quick and have a long battery life because some people don't have their phones out all that much during the day. I don't know if it has the usual accessories for charging too though so maybe it's just an added function to save from us having to plug it in. Anyways, that's just my thought on that. Good start though.

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