Digicel Coral-200-Solar is a low-cost solar powered handset
By Dusan Belic on Thursday, February 19th, 2009 at 4:38 AM PST In Announcements, Devices, Mobile World Congress 2009
Digicel Group launched the Coral-200-Solar, what they say is the world’s first low-cost solar-powered mobile phone. Manufactured by ZTE, the new device uses technology from Dutch company called Intivation.
The idea is to provide users in emerging markets with a device that doesn’t have to be connected to the power grid. There are an estimated two billion people in the world who have limited or no access to electricity, and Digicel along with ZTE wants to tackle that potentially lucrative market.
Of course, the Coral-200-Solar can also be plugged and charged by electric power, but I guess, that’s not the point here.
Anyway, Digicel is known for its low-cost portable solar charges and it seems that they have the experience needed to pull this off. I’m sure we’ll here more from them in the future. In the meantime, look forward to the June of this year, when Coral-200-Solar goes on sale…
