In 2009, Samsung released the world's first solar-powered cell phone. It
was known as the Samsung Guru E1107 and featured a solar cell built
into its back plate. When exposed to sunlight, the cell generated
electricity which in turn recharged the phone's battery. The small solar
cell could not provide a lot of power, however. To generate the charge
needed for a 5- to 10-minute voice call, the phone had to absorb an
hour's worth of solar energy. Still, the solar charging feature made
sense given the markets the phone was aimed at. The handset was designed
for consumers living in developing markets and areas where power
outages were a frequent occurrence.
The
Guru E1107 wasn't the only solar cell phone made by Samsung. Later in
2009, the company released the Samsung Blue Earth, which also featured a
solar cell on its back – an hour of sunlight was converted into 10
additional minutes of talk time. Unlike the Guru, the Samsung Blue Earth
offered a handful of advanced features, such as access to the web,
YouTube, and social networks. It could connect to the internet over
Wi-Fi or 3G, while a GPS radio enabled location services. Marketed as an
eco-friendly product, the phone was built of recycled materials and
came in a recycled cardboard box that doubled as a stand.
Should Samsung give solar energy another try in its next batch of smartphones, or should people go for a dedicated
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