Solar Power Mobile Phone?
Monday June 15, 2009
The Samsung Crest E1107 is the mobile company's first effort at a solar power mobile phone aimed for the masses. It's dubbed as eco friendly and budget conscious, and at US$59, it's hard to argue with that statement. However, don't expect to see one released on Australian shores for some time just yet.
The Crest headed for India, Asia, Latin America and Europe without plans for a US, UK or Australian release. Samsung has stated that the phone will be particularly useful in areas where power supply is inconsistent or maybe even non-existent. Rural areas in particular may have use for this mobile phone, and the company says in particular India's climate will facilitate the use of the mobile phone.
According to Samsung, the mobiles will achieve about 5-10 minutes talk time after about one hour charging in the sun. You can still charge the battery with electricity when convenient, and the phone's biggest boast is its power saving and eco-friendly potential. However, this mobile phone still comes with other features such as MP3 capability, games, a torch and FM radio.
There is also a feature called Mobile Tracker, which automatically sends an alert when the SIM card is changed or an SOS message in an emergency. This has positive implications for those who may spend some time away from civilisation where power may not be available or when communication is difficult.
Samsung is not the only major company to release solar power mobile phones - both LG and Sharp are among two known major mobile phone producers to have released solar powered phones on to different markets. While the Australian market is yet to see a mass-produced solar mobile, as technology improves it could be something we see become more common in the future.
Check out mobiles.com.au for all the latest info on mobile phones.
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