AfterDawn: News

LG releases 'green' phone with solar charging

LG has launched the GD510 Pop mobile phone this week, the company's "greenest" phone, ever.

The Pop's packaging uses all recycled paper and soy ink printing, and LG says the entire production process is eco-friendly.



Pre-installed on the phone are applications dubbed "Eco-tree" and "Eco-calculator" which lets users see how much they have reduced their C02 emissions by alternatively taking the train or carpooling instead of driving alone, for example.

Most notably however, is the optional solar-powered battery cover allowing you to charge your phone out in the sunlight. LG says 10 minutes of sunlight charging will give users 180 minutes of standby time, or just over 2 minutes of talk time.

Green aside, GSMArena says the phone has a "3" WQVGA resistive TFT display, 3 MP camera with fixed focus and video recording, Bluetooth, microUSB slot, and FM radio - not much different than LG Cookie." Unfortunately, the phone will not have 3G support.

The Pop will be available in the EU beginning next week.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Oct 2009 12:59

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• 12 comments

• DarkJello

  Any idea on the cost? I'd definitely get one if its reasonable with a contract, and available in the states.

  14.10.2009 13:44 #1

• bullet159

  one of the great things about solar charging i think it portability. second i really hope they don't screw this up by making solar charging the ONLY way to charge the phone.

  14.10.2009 13:46 #2

• Lothros

  All this Eco Fad junk is starting to piss me off now.

  14.10.2009 14:06 #3

• Xplorer4

  2 minuets of talk time? 2 minuets? How can it give 2+ hours of stand by and only 2 minuets of talk time?

  14.10.2009 14:16 #4

• Lothros

  Originally posted by Xplorer4: 2 minuets of talk time? 2 minuets? How can it give 2+ hours of stand by and only 2 minuets of talk time?2 Mins per 10 mins charging.
  
  Apparently sending Microwaves uses a lot of power.

  14.10.2009 14:27 #5

• slickwill

  Originally posted by Lothros: All this Eco Fad junk is starting to piss me off now.I agree, this "Going Green" and "Eco-Friendly" is just a business model, much like how Christmas, Halloween, etc is a business model. If there is a problem in society with a profitable solution, then the problem will be solved. Otherwise the problem won't be solved at all.
  
  One problem with this solar power charger is.....don't most people keep their phones in their pockets most of the time, where the sun doesn't shine ? I guess people could start putting their phones on a table and just leave it there to charge....but wouldn't that increase the chances of having your phone stolen or lost? Some people might be in the routine to charge their phone at night, but I guess they could keep the lights on in the room to let the phone charge while they sleep, b/c that is more eco-friendly......LOL

  14.10.2009 18:42 #6

• Xplorer4

  Quote:Originally posted by Xplorer4: 2 minuets of talk time? 2 minuets? How can it give 2+ hours of stand by and only 2 minuets of talk time?2 Mins per 10 mins charging.
  
  Apparently sending Microwaves uses a lot of power.
  Even then, look at the average talk time battery life of cell phones compared to there standby time, and you may get what, a third, a fourth of talk time compared to stand by time. Lets even say you only get an 8th of talk time compared to stand by time. That would give you 22.5 minuets of talk time if your looking at 180 minuets of stand by times. So I just dont see it as that impressive.

  14.10.2009 22:38 #7

• roybert

  Originally posted by bullet159: one of the great things about solar charging i think it portability. second i really hope they don't screw this up by making solar charging the ONLY way to charge the phone.Most notably however, is the optional solar-powered battery cover allowing you to charge your phone out in the sunlight.

  15.10.2009 11:25 #8

• 4umuser

  fabulous idea with great intentions for the eco system but still in it's teething stages - 2 minutes talk-time????

  15.10.2009 21:23 #9

• plazma247

  OMG PEOPLE READ PROPERLY it says
  
  "10 minutes of sunlight charging will give users 180 minutes of standby time, or just over 2 minutes of talk time."
  
  It doesnt say that the battery is fully charged after 10 minutes and ou only get 2 minutes, instead its saying 10 mins of solar charge will give you 2 minutes of talk... PUT UR DAM GLASSES ON !!
  
  Its not bad actally when you consider 10 mins give you 180 mins of standby, which means 1 hour and twenty mins will give you enough standby time for 24 hours

  16.10.2009 04:23 #10

• xboxdvl2

  Quote:Originally posted by Xplorer4:
  
  2 minuets of talk time? 2 minuets? How can it give 2+ hours of stand by and only 2 minuets of talk time?
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  2 Mins per 10 mins charging.
  
  Apparently sending Microwaves uses a lot of power.its all good the idea of an solar charging battery but if it takes 10 minutes of charging to get 2 minutes(or just over) then its pretty much useless solar charging your battery.i have a nokia 6070 and i plug it in to charge it and it takes 30minutes and i get about 5hours talk time.
  

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  16.10.2009 09:23 #11

• IguanaC64

  This is not a bad phone for us in hurricane prone areas. My power was out for a month after Ike. Charging my cell phone was a huge pita during this time.

  19.10.2009 10:57 #12