A new future with solar mobiles

For millions of people in Africa and Asia, with no connection to electricity grids or unreliable and expensive power access, t solar-powered gadgets are proving to be revolutionary. stuff reports.

... Solar cell phones could build on the economic advantages that mobile phones have already brought to far-flung regions of Africa and the Indian subcontinent, including price transparency and more accurate and timely information. Mobile phone penetration in these regions has been held back by a lack of electricity: there is simply no way to charge a cell phone in many rural areas of developing countries. An estimated 1.6 billion people have no access to electricity at all, while another 1 billion people have no electricity for much of the day, according to estimates by development groups. Fortuitously, perhaps, most of these people live in sunny climates. And this is where solar mobile phones come in.

Read full article. permalink (October 15th, 2009)

Wearable Flexible Solar Panel Vest for Boda Boda operators

AfriGadget reports on a solar vest that recharges mobile phones worn by Boda Boda operators, bicycle riders that carry passengers from main roads to villages off the beaten track in Western Kenya.

Wearing Flexible Panels while cycling generates power from sun-up to sun-down, an average of 12 hours a day. .. The Panel can be attached in a variety of ways. Velcro, Pop Buttons or simply attach Rucksack like straps so it can be worn with any garment. In the latter case the small pouch containing the controller and battery is attached to the back of the panels with Velcro.

Related: -- Solar Jacket Charges Gadgets on the Run -- Solar Power hand bags and golf bags -- Solar Power bikini -- Solar power devices recharge while byciling -- A charger bra for your cell phone permalink (September 7th, 2009)

Solar Power, Mobile Phones Converge to Distribute Water in Kenya

The New York Times on how solar power and cell phone converge to distribute water in Kenya.

On the heels of complaints about corrupt distributors and conflicts over the fair allocation of water, a community in Musingini, Kenya, is working with Safaricom and Grundfos Lifelink, a division of the Danish pump maker Grundfos Group, to implement a solar-powered, pay-for-use water vending system using the M-PESA backbone. The solar-powered well is activated using a smart card, which permits water to flow until either the card is removed or the user’s account runs out of credit. ... ”With this system we can monitor remotely how efficiently the solar well is operating, how much water has been used and how much income has been generated,” Mr. Hansen added.

Read full article. permalink (September 4th, 2009)

Safaricom launches solar-powered mobile phone

A solar-powered mobile phone has been launched by Kenyan­ mobile network operator, Safaricom, reports Renewable Energy.

Called Simu ya Solar, the handset has been made by them from recycled materials and it posses an in-built solar panel. This solar-charged phone will come in handy specifically in the rural parts where there is no grid electricity and even in urban areas, it is specially for those who are keen on saving on phone maintenance costs.

Related: -- Mobile screens become solar cells -- Solar powered cell phones in China by April 2007 -- Solar-powered cellphone in the works at NTTDoCoMo -- Germany's Solar Powered Mobile Phone permalink (August 17th, 2009)

Orange unveils solar concept tent at Glastonbury Music Festival

Spotted on News.com, Telecom giant Orange's concept solar tent for the opening of this year's Glastonbury music festival in the U.K. Related: - «Text Me Home Tents» and «Text Towers». At Glastonbury 2004 festival-goers had a helping hand finding their way "home" thanks to Orange tents that light up by text message. permalink (June 25th, 2009)

Samsung Introduces Its First Solar Powered Mobile Phone

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, today announced its first solar powered mobile phone, the “Crest Solar” (E1107). The new handset enables its users to charge the battery anywhere the sun is shining when electricity is unavailable. [via YTN] permalink (June 12th, 2009)

LG shows off solar phone, battery cover

LG showed its own concept solar phone at MWC this week to match up with Samsung's Blue Earth. The prototype LG handset can eke 3 minutes' worth of life out of a 10-minute charge in natural light. [via engadget:mobile] permalink (February 22nd, 2009)

335,000 Cellular Base Stations to Include Solar Power by 2013

As mobile network expansion moves ostensibly to emerging markets where solar energy levels are more favorable, solar power appears ready to play an important role in reducing the costs of cellular service delivery and ensuring a more reliable power supply. Cellular News reports.

The OEMs’ drive toward reducing base station power consumption, along with improvements in photovoltaic cells, have meant that solar energy is now a very viable solution for powering cellular base stations. ABI Research vice president Stuart Carlaw says: “The market for autonomous solar powered cell sites looks set to grow from extremely modest levels today to over 40,000 renewable energy sites by the end of 2013. A further 295,000 base stations are expected to supplement on-grid power usage with solar.”

permalink (October 25th, 2008)

The Solar Power Purse

The Solar Power Purse comes with solar cells that charge a cell phone battery in just two hours. [via inhabitat] Links to other solar purses and bags. permalink (September 16th, 2008)

Solar iPhone 3G Case

Spotted on Ubergizmo, a Solar iPhone 3G case to charge your cell phone on the go. permalink (September 9th, 2008)

The Solar Tie recharges your cell phone

Integrating solar cells into clothing or bags - giving us an extra hour of talk time - can be a style challenge as those solar cells come mostly in brownish color and its distinctive cell pattern.

Now a team at North Carolina State University came up with a brilliant idea how to make use of digital textile printing to incorporate solar cells into a design by printing fabric that matches the pattern of the component. As an example of how digital textile printing can be used to make the solar panels invisible is the solar jacket and the solar powered necktie - to recharge your cell phone. [The Raw Feed via talk2myShirt] permalink (August 18th, 2008)

Brunton's Solar Rolls

Brunton's SolarRoll is available in three sizes and can power a variety of things including laptops, GPS devices, cell phones, video camera, digital cameras... . They even claim that the SolarRoll can charge your car battery as well. [Newlaunches via Crave] permalink (November 28th, 2007)

New Noon Solar Bags

Spotted on Unhabitat, another solar-panel bag that can charge your cell phone and other gadgets while on the move. From Noon Solar. Other solar-panel-device recharging bags: -- SOLARCS Shoulder bag to recharge your mobile gadgets -- Juice Bag -- Solar Shoulder Bag Charges Cell Phones -- Power purse charges your cell phone -- Solar golf bag charges cell phones permalink (November 25th, 2007)

SOLARCS Shoulder bag to recharge your mobile gadgets

Another solar bag to recharge your mobile phone. Developped by German technology company SOLARC, well known for well-known for develooping solar powered kitchen appliances worlwide. In their own words: The bag's cover include an integrated flexible solar module making it possible to recharge an accumulator or small electronics devices, such as PDAs, GPS, mobiles, MP3-Players... , by using a specific cable. You are no longer dependent on power supplies and can travel in peace. Other bags that recharge cell phones: -- Juice Bag -- Solar Shoulder Bag Charges Cell Phones -- Power purse charges your cell phone -- Solar golf bag charges cell phones permalink (June 25th, 2007)

Solar Jacket Charges Gadgets on the Run

Heavy users of mobile phones, iPods and other portable devices may want to try on B>a new coat lined with solar modules and a battery to charge their gadgets on the fly. At a fashion show in Florence on Thursday, Italian fashion company Ermenegildo Zegna showed off Solar JKT, the first available luxury jacket with integrated solar power supply. The solar jacket, developed in an exclusive partnership with Interactive Wear, will be brought onto the market as part of the 2008 spring/summer collection. The solar modules are mounted on a neoprene collar; the electricity generated from solar energy is transmitted through conducting textile leads and stored temporarily in a buffer battery or fed directly to a connected device. [via PC World] permalink (June 24th, 2007)

World First Solar Pannel Phone Launches in China

High Tech Wealth , a well known telecommunication products supplier in China has developed a mobile phone that utilizes solar energy to recharge itself. The company also claims that it is the world’s first to use solar power to recharge a phone battery. TechShout reports. "This solar-powered mobile phone from Hi-Tech can provide 40 minutes of talk-time after sitting in the sun for an hour. .. According to Zhang Zhengyu, chairman, Hi-Tech Wealth, "the lifespan of the battery in the newly developed solar-powered mobile phone is 2.5 times longer than that of traditional batteries." Many companies around the world are working on similar mobile phones, but their products are still in the experimental stage, such as: -- Motorola Starts Solar Project - A new Motorola patent covers the use of a mobile phone LCD screen as a solar cell. -- Solar powered cell phones in China by April - HTW Electronics was exhibiting a solar powered mobile phone concept at CeBIT this week and claims that a full production model will be released in China next month. (2007) -- Solar-powered cellphone in the works - NTT DoCoMo is working on prototype of a hybrid cellphone that features integrated solar panels. Powered complety by the sun rays, so you will never run out of battery power. No time frame yet for a launch date. (2006) -- Solar Powered Mobile Phone - The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (the largest labs for applied sciences in Germany) has rolled out a prototype sun powered mobile phone. (2006) permalink (June 8th, 2007)

Uganda: Motorola Starts Solar Project

Motorola has launched its global 'Motopower' solar recharge project in Kampala. "Through the Motopower program women are given the opportunity to run their own businesses, learn valuable entrepreneurial skill and generate a positive income," Nikesh Patel, the senior sales director for Africa, said at the launch. Patel said the process had started to select 50 women to spearhead the project to run their own Motopower kiosks. The kiosks will offer free, solar-powered mobile phone recharge services." [via AllAfrica.com] permalink (May 13th, 2007)

Swimming champ models Solar panelled bathing suit

Swimwear modelled by water ballet champion Gemma Mengual on the catwalk of Triumph Lngerie fashion show in Valencia, during the America's Cup festivities. The bathing suit is covered in solar panels for recharging the cell phone while you sunbathe. [via La repubblica] The bathing suit is most probably by Andrew Schneider, (a student at Interactive Telecommunications Program at Tisch School of the Arts of New York University ). Previously : - Solar Powered Bikini Recharges Mobile Phones permalink (April 25th, 2007)

Mobile screens become solar cells

Mad4Mobile Phones reports on a new Motorola patent which covers the use of a mobile phone LCD screen as a solar cell. "The Display and Solar Cell Device patent would allow mobile phones and other devices to be fitted with a solar cell screen that would power the device and recharge an internal battery while it was left in the sun." Similar: -- Solar powered cell phones in China by April - HTW Electronics was exhibiting a solar powered mobile phone concept at CeBIT this week and claims that a full production model will be released in China next month. (2007) -- Solar-powered cellphone in the works - NTT DoCoMo is working on prototype of a hybrid cellphone that features integrated solar panels. Powered complety by the sun rays, so you will never run out of battery power. No time frame yet for a launch date. (2006) -- Solar Powered Mobile Phone - The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (the largest labs for applied sciences in Germany) has rolled out a prototype sun powered mobile phone. (2006) permalink (April 23rd, 2007)

Solar Powered Bikini Recharges Mobile Phones and iDrink Male bathing suite Cools your Drink

Missed this, though it was featured n Gizmodo in December. American designer Andrew Schneider' bikini covered in solar cells with a socket for recharging a mobile phone while you sunbathe. Spotted it this morning via Cellular News. Andrew Schneider is a student at Interactive Telecommunications Program at Tisch School of the Arts of New York University and according to his website, the bikini will be commercialised. Solar Bikini is a swimsuit retrofitted with 1″x 4″photovoltaic film strips sewn together in series with conductive thread. The cells terminate in a 5 volt regulator into a female USB connection... More tech specs here. More good news, The male version of the Solar Bikini (coming soon) called the iDrink, features a greater surface area which equals more output voltage. This additional juice is used to power a 1.5 amp peltier junction which cools a single beer ." permalink (April 16th, 2007)

Solar Shoulder Bag Charges Cell Phones

Spotted on Productdose, the Picard Solar shoulder bag "designed to charge your phone, media players, and gadgets as you move from place to place". Comes in black only. Available in August. Related and more feminin: - Solar Power purse charges your cell phone permalink (April 11th, 2007)

Solar bursts may threaten Global Positioning System

Something to worry about. The Global Positioning System, relied on for everything from navigating cars and airplanes to transferring money between banks, may be threatened by powerful solar flares, a panel of scientists warned Wednesday. Canada.com reports. "GPS receivers have become widely used in recent years, using satellite signals in navigating airplanes, ships and automobiles and in using cellphones, mining, surveying and many other commercial uses. "Our increasingly technologically dependent society is becoming increasingly vulnerable to space weather," David Johnson, director of the U.S. National Weather Service, said at a briefing. The cause for their concern, Johnson said, was an unexpected solar radio burst Dec. 6 that affected virtually every GPS receiver on the lighted half of Earth. Some receivers had a reduction in accuracy, while others completely lost the ability to determine position, he said. ... "This is a wake-up call" to improve technology, commented Anthony Mannucci, group supervisor at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory." permalink (April 5th, 2007)

Solar powered cell phones in China by next month

HTW Electronics was exhibiting a solar powered mobile phone concept at CeBIT this week and claims that a full production model will be released in China next month, reports Mad4Mobile Phhones. "The HTW S116 has an array of solar cells which charge an internal Li-Ion battery which offers 20-25 minutes of talk time for a 40 minute charge in the sunshine. This device, if it really works, will be groundbreaking in its usefulness towards third world communities without a reliable electricity supply." permalink (March 20th, 2007)

For your purse: A Solar Mobile Charger

This Solar Mobile Phone Charger has obviously been designed with women in mind it's so pretty. Works with Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, SonyEricsson phones and MP3/MP4 players. [via Shiny Shiny and Techie Diva] permalink (December 18th, 2006)

Solar-powered cellphone in the works

NTT DoCoMo is working on prototype of a hybrid cellphone that features integrated solar panels. Powered complety by the sun rays, so you will never run out of battery power. No time frame yet for a launch date. [via Uberphones, Treehuger and T3] Other solar powered ideas: -- The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft shows prototype of sun powered mobile phone -- Scotty Solar Charger -- Solar golf bag charges cell phones -- Solar Powered Cellphone Charms -- StarSight - Street lamps recharge cell phones -- Solar Cell Phone Charger -- Vodafone Portugal launches solar cell phone charger -- A solar battery for a mobile lifestyle -- Vodafone Netherlands offers solar charger for mobile phones -- Soldius1 solar cellphone charger -- Solar cell blouse to charge your cellphone -- Solar-powered cell phones for Emergencies -- Longer-lasting solution for power cell phone batteries -- Solar Cell Doubles as Battery -- Sun powering mobile phone base -- A portable solar bag to recharge cell phone batteries permalink (November 17th, 2006)

Solar Flares Could Disable Mobile Phones

Along the lines of the sky falling on our heads, here's something new to worry about. According to Cellular News, solar flares could disable mobile phones. "Solar flares could knock out GPS enabled mobile phones, reports researchers at Cornell University. Because solar flares -- larger-than-normal radiation "burps" by the sun -- are generally unpredictable, such failures could be devastating for "safety-of-life" GPS operations -- such as navigating passenger jets, stabilizing floating oil rigs and locating mobile phone distress calls." According to this page dated 2000 on NASA website, solar flares are on the rise, occuring several times a week. permalink (September 29th, 2006)

Solar Powered Mobile Phone

Mobile devices are becoming more and more intelligent – allowing users to watch movies on a mobile phone or laptop, or navigate with a PDA – but at the same time they require increasing amounts of power. The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (the largest labs for applied sciences in Germany) has rolled out a prototype sun powered mobile phone. 21 talks reports. "Under the leadership of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, scientists from various institutes are working on technologies that will make it possible to achieve greater power densities and, when combined with batteries in hybrid energy systems, extend operating times. At the Hanover Trade Fair, the researchers will be displaying new energy storage technologies, micro-fuel cells, and information on the opportunities offered by "energy harvesting," or drawing power from multiple energy sources available in the environment of the device." Other solar powered ideas: -- Scotty Solar Charger - The Scotty Solar Charger recharches your cell phone from your belt, while on the move - using daylight. -- Solar golf bag charges cell phones - A Dutch company has launched a golf bag with solar panels that can charge a cell phone. -- Solar Powered Cellphone Charms - Cellphone charms are now sporting little display plates powered by solar, that you can hang on your mobile phone. -- StarSight - Street lamps recharge cell phones - Starsight is a project designed to supercharge street lighting and power in developing counties. Essentially it is a network of pylons, each with a solar panel, linked not by cables but by antennae which use wireless internet protocol. -- Solar Cell Phone Charger - Starsight is a project designed to supercharge street lighting and power in developing counties. More links: -- Vodafone Portugal launches solar cell phone charger -- A solar battery for a mobile lifestyle -- Vodafone Netherlands offers solar charger for mobile phones -- Soldius1 solar cellphone charger -- Solar cell blouse to charge your cellphone -- Solar-powered cell phones for Emergencies -- Longer-lasting solution for power cell phone batteries -- Solar Cell Doubles as Battery -- Sun powering mobile phone base -- A portable solar bag to recharge cell phone batteries permalink (June 13th, 2006)

Scotty Solar Charger

The Scotty Solar Charger recharches your cell phone from your belt, while on the move - using daylight. In their own words: "The fitted belt clip also doubles as a fold out stand, which can be used to ensure the Scotty is positioned at an optimum angle to receive direct sunlight. The Scotty is charged fully in 7 hours of sunlight, and this can be as little as 5 hours if the Scotty is used regularly. A fully charged Scotty will provide a mobile phone with 1-1½ hours talk time or up to 60 hours standby". [via the one and only fabulous Red Ferret] permalink (April 18th, 2006)

Solar golf bag charges cell phones

A Dutch company has launched a golf bag with solar panels that can charge a cell phone. News.com reports. "The Soldius Solar Golf Bag holds clubs and balls like any other golf bag, but it also includes integrated solar panels that can be used to charge personal electronic items. The bags come complete with charging tips that can connect to phones and handhelds from Nokia, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, Motorola and Research In Motion. Charging time is dependent on sunlight." permalink (January 27th, 2006)

Solar Powered Cellphone Charms

Cellphone charms are now sporting little display plates powered by solar, that you can hang on your mobile phone. Asian store CellphoneGeek offers Solar Power Flash Plates to fix on your cell phone. They feature Snoopy, Doraemon, Winnie, Angel Kitty and Nightmare before Christmas images. The images appear and disappear! The solar powered charms sell for $9.00 each. [via I4U] permalink (December 24th, 2005)

Solar Cell Phone Charger

Roland Kleinfeld, a jeweler and entrepreneur, has designed a cell phone charger that uses solar energy. It looks like a cell phone, except the flip-out reveals solar panels, and the body contains the battery pack, which can hold adequate charge for up to 14 days. [via Open Source Energy Network] The company says the solar cell phone charger is compatible with most cell phones, including over 30 Nokia models, 20 Ericsson models, 14 Motorola/Nextel models, and 8 Seimens models. Other solar battery charger systems have proven counter-productive for the damage that the sun's head does to the batteries and their longevity, as well as causing leakage." Related articles: -- Vodafone Portugal launches solar cell phone charger -- A solar battery for a mobile lifestyle -- Vodafone Netherlands offers solar charger for mobile phones -- Soldius1 solar cellphone charger -- Solar cell blouse to charge your cellphone -- Solar-powered cell phones for Emergencies -- Longer-lasting solution for power cell phone batteries -- Solar Cell Doubles as Battery -- Sun powering mobile phone base -- A portable solar bag to recharge cell phone batteries permalink (September 30th, 2005)

Swiss-designed solar antennas

A satellite equipped with novel solar antennas developed by the EPFL will be part of the payload on the Russian rocket Cosmos, scheduled for launch September 30 from Plesetsk, Russia. This satellite incorporates advanced technology that combines antenna functions and solar cells on a single surface. [via Innovations-report] ... "Because Asolant is autonomous, providing its own power source with the solar cells on its surface, it also has the potential for many exceedingly practical Earth-based applications. Sheets of solar antennae on residential rooftops could simultaneously power the home and send and receive TV, radio and wireless phone and internet signals. ... Solar antennas could be used in increasingly power-hungry cell phones. Information from remote regions could be sent via autonomous transmitters". permalink (September 28th, 2005)

Vodafone Portugal launches solar cell phone charger

Vodafone Portugal has launched a solar charger for mobile phones enabling users to recharge batteries anywhere where the sun is shining, reports Cellular News. "Apart from mobile phones and PDAs, this flexible charging technology can also be used to power a range of other devices such as handheld games, MP3 players and digital cameras. The solar charger can be bought at all Vodafone shops. Its internal battery captures the solar energy and stores it, from where it can be transferred to mobile devices. It will still be possible, however, to recharge these devices from the electrical mains supply. Portugal is the third country in the world - after Holland and Greece - to offer this exclusive Vodafone product. The Vodafone solar charger also has the advantage of being an environment-friendly product. To illustrate that, 10,000 customers using the charger for a year on solar energy alone would prevent the atmospheric discharge of 8 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is accepted as one of the main causes of global warming." Related: -- A solar battery for a mobile lifestyle -- Vodafone Netherlands offers solar charger for mobile phones -- Soldius1 solar cellphone charger -- Solar cell blouse to charge your cellphone -- Solar-powered cell phones for Emergencies -- Longer-lasting solution for power cell phone batteries -- Solar Cell Doubles as Battery -- Sun powering mobile phone base -- A portable solar bag to recharge cell phone batteries permalink (September 7th, 2005)

A solar battery for a mobile lifestyle

The Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute said yesterday that it has developed a thin, flexible solar battery that can be attached to cars, clothes or bags. Provided by the institute. [via JoongAng Daily] permalink (July 22nd, 2005)

Vodafone Netherlands offers solar charger for mobile phones

Mobile operator Vodafone has introduced the Vodafone Solar Charger, a charger equipped with solar cells for the mobile phone or PDA. The charger will be available in the 75 Vodafone city points. It can also be ordered on the Vodafone online shop. The charger is a flat box containing a small solar collector. To charge the handset, the user folds out the box, places it in daylight and connects it to the mobile phone or PDA.. [via DMeurope] Related: -- Soldius1 solar cellphone charger -- Solar cell blouse to charge your cellphone -- Solar-powered cell phones for Emergencies -- Longer-lasting solution for power cell phone batteries -- Solar Cell Doubles as Battery -- Sun powering mobile phone base -- A portable solar bag to recharge cell phone batteries permalink (June 20th, 2005)

Solar cell blouse to charge your cellphone

Engadget reports that researchers at Gifu University and Gunze in Japan have created what they say is an ultra-thin solar cell that can be applied to fabrics. "They're showing off a prototype solar-cell blouse that they say can charge a cellphone. How cool is that? permalink (March 31st, 2005)

Solar-powered cell phones for Emergencies

As one of the safety measures implemented along the coast of northern Lake Michigan, the Water Safety Team of Mackinac County has placed solar-powered cell phones at the beach parking lots for quick access to emergency 911, reports the Duluth News Tribune. "Other measures include handing out brochures, placed signs and created "rescue stations" -- wooden boxes containing lifesaving equipment such as life rings, life vests and rescue boards." permalink (March 12th, 2005)

Solar storms could disrupt mobile phones, television

The largest emission of radiation by the sun in 15 years could disrupt mobile telephone communications as well as television and radio reception, scientists have said, reports ABCNews Online. "Large solar flares were unleashed when energy stored in magnetic fields above sunspots was suddenly released, according to the scientists at Britain's Royal Astronomical Society. The effects of the solar flares were seen at different points on earth, including brilliant auroras over parts of Britain on Friday night. "Flares can affect short-wave communications and satellites in the earth's orbit which could mean problems for phones, television and radio signals," said Peter Bond, spokesman for the Royal Astronomical Society. "The flares have caused a huge amount of geomagnetic activity as the magnetic field takes a while to settle," he said. It was the largest radiation storm since October 1989, according to experts. permalink (January 23rd, 2005)

Solar Cell Doubles as Battery

Technology Review reports that scientists from Toin University of Yokohama have designed a single device that can both convert solar energy to electricity and store the electricity. The photocapacitor can also capture energy from weak light sources like sunlight on cloudy or rainy days and indoor lighting. The light-driven, self-charging capacitor could eventually be used to power phones, cameras, and PDAs. "Users can just bring the device anywhere and expose it to indoor and outdoor ambient light whether they need power or not [then] release the stored electricity anytime they want," explains Tsutomu Miyasaka, a researcher at the University. permalink (November 29th, 2004)

Strong Solar Storm Could Disrupt Cell Phones, Pagers

Scientists say they are expecting a strong geomagnetic storm to hit Earth Friday -- and there could be some problems for electrical grids and satellite communications.

Solar storms can damage satellites, power grids and pipelines, as well as other electrical disturbances that can affect cable TV, pager and cellular telephone service. [The Boston Channel]

permalink (October 24th, 2003)

A portable solar bag to recharge cell phone batteries

Twenty one year-old Swiss born Markus Gisler, has invented a portable solar bag called the "Sunny Walker, which recharges cell phone batteries as well as batteries for other mobile devices such as PDAs, gameboys, video cameras, ... Approached by Nokia and Siemens, he has turned them down, refusing to sell out to a big corporation.

So far he's sold 1000 pieces, from his own website Megasol as well as from the panda Shop of the WWF. He was interviewed in Swis e-zine Largeur.com.

permalink (September 12th, 2003)

Samsung's latest environmental phone launches in Sweden

Spotted on the Independent, Samsung's new S7550 Blue Earth cell phone, integrating environmental awareness.

Launching in Sweden this month and due in other European and Asian countries later on, the Blue Earth has a casing sourced primarily from recycled water bottles, a solar panel covering the back of the phone, a 3inch touch screen, wi-fi, and fully featured software.

Read full article. permalink (October 17th, 2009)

Winter Jacket Warms and Charges Your Gadgets

Mountain Hardware has developed a winter jacket with a heating element that will keep you toasty while it charges your gadgets. [via Gadget Wise Blog] Other clothing items that recharge cell phones: -- Wearable Flexible Solar Panel Vest for Boda Boda operators -- Solar Jacket Charges Gadgets on the Run -- Solar Power hand bags and golf bags -- Solar Power bikini -- Solar power devices recharge while byciling -- A charger bra for your cell phone permalink (October 4th, 2009)

Send a Text Message to Planet Gliese

Australian Science Minister Kim Carr will today send an interstellar SMS to Gliese 581d, a planet outside our Solar System, which at a distance of 20 light years, or 194 trillion kilometres, away is the closest Earth-like planet that could support life. The Australian reports.

The message, to be sent from Canberra's Questacon to mark National Science Week, will say: "Hello from Australia on the planet we call Earth. These messages express our people's dreams for the future. We want to share those dreams with you." If there are aliens out there, they will need a dish to receive the message, which will not arrive before 2029. It is believed to be the first attempt to make contact with the planet, which astronomers believe could hold abundant liquid water, necessary for supporting life. The planet, whose "years" last just 66.8 days, was discovered in 2007.

Australians can send text messages to the planet via www.hellofromearth.net. Here are some samples of messages sent: All your bases are belonging to us Rob Launceston , Australia Hi. Can you take me away from this god aweful place. thanks in Advance! P Linsay Brisbane , Australia No idea how you're supposed to be able to read English so good luck! hopefuly this finds something out there, greetings from Australia!! Trent Gold Coast , Australia Related: -- Sending text messages into space to contact extra terrestrials - Believers in aliens are sending text messages into space in a bid to make contact with little green men. The messages are sent through website sentforever.com/ originally created to send romantic declarations and expressions of love into the cosmos. They are beamed across the universe on radio waves using a giant satellite dish permalink (August 12th, 2009)

Pedal power for Kenya's mobiles

Two Kenyan students are hoping to market a device that allows bicycle riders to charge their mobile phones. The BBC reports.

Jeremiah Murimi, 24, and Pascal Katana, 22, said they wanted their dynamo-powered "smart charger" to help people without electricity in rural areas. People have to travel great distances to shops where they are charged $2 a time to power their phone, usually from a car battery or solar panel. "The device is so small you can put it in your pocket with your phone while you are on your bike," said Mr Murimi. It takes an our of pedaling to charge a phone completely.

Read full article. Related: -- Motorola to release a bicycle-powered cellphone charger permalink (July 27th, 2009)

For Uganda's poor, a cellular connection

More than a third of Uganda's population, about 10 million people own a cell phone - a counry where only 10 percent of the population has electricity - and many more have access to these phones through family members and neighbors. Cell phones can be found in every desolate corner of the countryside, where 85 percent of the country's residents live. With the dire need to be connected, people go to great lengths to use cell phones, charging them with car batteries or solar chargers. Several nonprofits have begun thinking that the best way to reach the country's poor and get them much needed information is through their phones.

Read full article in Cnet news. permalink (July 14th, 2009)

Big-Bellied, Text-Messaging Trash Cans?

Green Inc, a New York Times blog, reports on texting trash cans.

This month, Somerville, Mass., will install text-messaging technology in about 50 public trash cans located in high-pedestrian and far-flung areas. The idea is that the cans, made by BigBelly Solar, will transmit text messages to a central database, notifying haulers that they are full and allowing town managers to maximize collection efficiency.

Read full article. permalink (March 17th, 2009)

The HYmini, a cool compact wind-powered charger

Spotted on Ken Banks' Kiwanja.net, a revolutionary way of capturing renewable power for your your mobile phone: The HYmini, a handheld, universal charger/adapter device that harnesses renewable wind, solar power and conventional wall plug power - to recharge almost all mobile gadgets. permalink (January 26th, 2009)

High Tech Parking Meters Alert Police via Text Message

We've heard of parking meters that let car owners know when the meter has expired, but now, thanks to the French, parking meters can snitch on drivers who stay longer than they're allowed by sending text messages to the cops. Switched reports.

The smart meters, developed by engineering firm Technolia, detect when a car is parked in a space through the use of a magnetic field. In the 60 towns employing these new meters in France, the meters allow each driver 20 minutes of parking near shopping areas in the hopes of creating quick turnover. Once that expires, the meter waits 15 minutes before texting the police.

Related m-parking schemes: -- SMS warnings save motorists' parking fines in Sydney - A new range of meters installed across Sydney, will from now onwards inform vehicle owners about their parking time limit on SMS and save them from paying heavy fines. (March 2005) -- UC gets m-parking - The University of California-Santa Barbara with help from IBM, overhauled its parking system, enabling mobile users to pay for their parking meters with their cell phones. (February 2005) -- Sun-powered parking meters for city - Solar-powered parking meters capable of accepting credit cards and payment via mobile phone are to be installed in central Sydney. (February 2005) -- M-Parking in Vienna The Austrian capital has just completed its first year of allowing residents to pay for any of its 126,000 short-term parking spaces by mobile phone, under what it calls its M-Parking system (October 2004). -- Parking Fees to Be Paid by SMS -Sofia municipality (Bulgaria) will introduce a new "Pay and display" parking fee system (October 2004) -- Austrians purchase car-parking tickets by mobile phones - About 50,000 drivers are now purchasing their car-parking tickets by mobile phone and SMS in Vienna and five other cities in Austria. "M-parking" was introduced a year ago by German IT services provider Siemens Business Services and mobile operator Mobilkom. (October 2004) Austria. -- mParking - The first scheme in the UK which allows drivers to pay for parking by mobile phone has been launched in Scotland (October 2003). -- Sydney Council today launched its new mobile phone payment parking system, which not only allows motorists to pay for metered parking using their mobile phone - but also lets them know via SMS that their meter is due to expire. (March 19, 2004) permalink (January 12th, 2009)

Scientists use mobile phones to eavesdrop on koala conversations

According to the Mail Online, scientists are using mobile phones to eavesdrop on koalas in an attempt to translate what they are saying to each other.

The researchers placed mobiles in the trees of a koala territory to record the marsupials' distinctive bellows. They hope studying the animals' mysterious communications will reveal ways to help keep up population numbers, under threat from destruction of traditional habitats. The mobiles, charged by solar power and car batteries, are programmed to record for two minutes every half hour on St Bees Island off north-east Australia, then transmit the recordings to a computer at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

Read more. permalink (November 26th, 2008)