Monday, August 3, 2009

Solar-powered mobile from Samsung

Special Correspondent

— PHOTO: AFP

Back-up power: Samsung President and CEO J. S. Shin (left) and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah launch the first solar powered Samsung mobile phone in Noida on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: In a major technological advancement, Samsung India on Wednesday launched world’s first solar-powered mobile phone, Solar Guru (Guru E1107), that allows users to charge the battery using solar energy, once the phone battery runs out of normal electric charge. Priced at Rs. 2,799, the handset, which was launched by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, has the capacity to provide around 5-10 minutes of talk-time with one hour of solar charging, apart from the normal electric charging. Its other features include FM radio, MP3 ring tones, embedded games and torchlight. Made out of recycled material, the new handset is free from harmful substances such as beryllium and phthalates.

Global markets

According to Samsung’s South West Asia Headquarters President and CEO J. S. Shin, “Solar Guru has been developed keeping in mind the needs of Indian consumers, especially customers residing in areas facing power crunch so that they can rely on solar charging to remain connected”.

Solar Guru was being introduced in various global markets, he added.

Samsung Country Head (Mobile Division) Sunil Dutt said: “Initially, the handsets will be imported from Korea and will be available in the Indian market within a week. In the next few months, we would start manufacturing the handsets at our Noida facility”.

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