Samsung's solar powered eco-phone

Samsung's solar-powered telephone anticipates an age when our talking machines are no longer coal-fired. That age will be upon us surprisingly soon, too: this very real gadget will be offered in England and her remaining colonies later this year.

Blue Earth, it's called.

[#1 posted by thickdot , February 13, 2009 8:39 PM]

Nice, an off-grid phone. Construction is nearing completion on my hybrid solar home. This would be a handy item to have.

[#2 posted by Anonymous , February 13, 2009 9:15 PM]

Good old Lithium ion batteries don't like heat all that much. I wonder how much faster the ones in this phone will cook to death, given that you are encouraged to put it, black side up, in direct sunlight for long periods of time.

[#3 posted by nehpetsE , February 13, 2009 9:58 PM]

"warning. do not leave in direct sunlight. Plastic may warp"

[#4 posted by nixiebunny , February 13, 2009 11:20 PM]

Now they just have to incorporate a portable sun into your purse or pants pocket, and it will work great.

[#5 posted by AlisdairC , February 14, 2009 2:11 AM]

Looks a bit android-y on that screen. guess it isn't though, as Samsung have put back any android releases until late 09.

[#6 posted by strider_mt2k , February 14, 2009 4:29 AM]

Neat idea.

Solar charged though I would think.
Doubtful it's directly powered by the sun.

[#7 posted by blip , February 14, 2009 4:43 AM]

I hate Samsung mobiles (and my ex-firm worked with them for a while) but if this really works I would seriously consider it.

[#8 posted by strider_mt2k , February 14, 2009 5:35 AM]

Hmmm.
My Omnia goes into privacy mode when you flip it over.
Having a charging panel on THERE seems like it would make sense as well now that I think about it.

[#9 posted by ranomatic , February 14, 2009 9:56 AM]

How can a few cm^2 of solar cells charge a phone? It can't.

[#10 posted by ronzo , February 14, 2009 4:06 PM]

Why not? guessing from how big other samsung touchscreen phones are there is more than enough room for a useable solar panel on the back

or are you suggesting that samsung would somehow manage to spend money and time developing and marketing a device they know for certain will not work?

[#11 posted by ranomatic , February 14, 2009 7:34 PM]

@Ronzo - Don't get me wrong here - I like the concept, but yes. I am suggesting that Samsung would spend money and time developing and marketing a device they know for certain will not work.

Using some rough numbers:

There is no more than about 25 cm^2 of solar cell on the back of that phone. If you went to the equator, on a bright, sunny day you would get 900W/m^2 of sun at noon if my memory from high school (many years ago) is right. At 20% efficiency, that 25cm^2 panel would yield 0.45W peak. But they are planning to sell it in the UK so assume 600W/m^2 and a 0.27W peak yield. That give you a little under 66mA peak of current at 4.1V.

The trouble is phones need a fairly large battery to provide reasonable talk time. The phone in my hand has an 1100mAh battery in it. Even with a tiny 600mAh battery, the solar power cell above would not be sufficient to charge it.

Am I missing something?

[#12 posted by PrettyBoyTim , February 15, 2009 5:16 AM]

I don't think you're missing anything. I can't see the solar panel making any substantial difference to the battery life of the phone.

To be honest, even if the solar panel was sufficient to charge the phone if you're anything like me, it would still be useless. My phone lives in my pocket during the day, only ever coming out to charge on my bedside table during the night. Apart from the time I'm actually using it, it never really sees daylight.

[#13 posted by Pekar , February 15, 2009 8:16 AM]

Foldouts are probably necessary to totally power a phone with solar. (Think Solio)
But this still isn't very functional.

Having a separate charging station, with its own battery seems to be the most practical solution, but that doesn't have the appeal of a sexy solar pocket gadget.

Returning to removable batteries would add even more flexibility.

[#14 posted by Thad E Ginataom , February 15, 2009 8:44 AM]

London Scenario...

You take out your phone in a public place to let it charge up. It gets stolen.

[#15 posted by cha0tic , February 15, 2009 12:57 PM]

Solar power in the UK? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[#16 posted by Anonymous , February 15, 2009 2:29 PM]

They should have made a phone with a built-in winder or shaker generator. Would be more effective and more likely to get used.