Add to del.icio.us     Digg this

Apr. 20, 2009

The second largest mobile phone carrier in Japan, KDDI Corp., said today it will start selling a waterproof, solar-powered mobile phone in 6 to 7 weeks.

The yet-to-be-priced mobile handset will be made by Sharp, KDDI said.

The reduced use of conventional electricity will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the Tokyo-based firm added.

Overall, just a ten minute solar charge will provide enough power for a one-minute call or power the handset in standby mode for up to two hours, KDDI said.

The company added that the sun can recharge up to about eighty percent of the phone's battery.

Korean rival Samsung Electronics introduced a new solar-powered mobile phone 6 weeks ago, touting it as the world's first. The company says the phone is made from recycled plastic extracted from water bottles.

Samsung hasn't said yet when its mobile handsets will go on sale or for how much.

With today's announcement, KDDI has intensified the worldwide race to develop and market environment-friendly products.

Last January, at the Consumer Electronics Show, Motorola described its W-233 Renew handset as the first carbon neutral mobile phone.

Motorola's W233 also is made from plastics from recycled water bottles gathered from all over North America.

Add to del.icio.us     Digg this

    This article was featured on Business 5.0 and on Tech Blog.

Source: KDDI Corp.