Bring out the environmentalist side in you by purchasing o­ne of NTT's new solar powered phone rechargers. In just 4-5 hours, you can recharge two phones.
Though a lot of people conventionally think of solar powered things to be o­nly those in remote places (like mountain top vending machines), solar power has plenty of uses beyond that. I'm sure I could recharge something while my car is sitting in the hot South Carolina sun.

The "Pocket Energy," a simple mobile device charger that uses solar energy, has been introduced. This solar-powered recharger, with a postcard sized 23mm thick body, is opened up much like a laptop; if it is placed in the sun for 4 to 5 hours, it can recharge two cellular phones. As the device is a size such that it can be placed o­n the dashboard of a car, it will likely also be convenient as a mobile recharging station for businessmen.

Power can be supplied to cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras, and other handheld electronics by simply changing the connector type.

This product was developed by NTT Labs in February of this year as "clean mobile power easy o­n the environment." NTT Advanced Technology (NTT-AT, CEO: Hiro Ishikawa) has commcercialized the product with the cooperation of Bic Camera (CEO: Takashi Arai), who is also focusing o­n the spread of energy-conserving devices. Sale to general users will be handled entirely by Bic Camera. From the 19th, sale of the devices will begin at all Bic Camera shops, and o­n the company's net shopping site, biccamera.com.

The construction of the product is broken down into a power body section, solar cell section, connection cable, and cord for ceullar phone connection. The distinguishing characteristic is how the solar cell section and power section are seperate; power can be generated at lunch, and saved for recharging a cellular phone later. Since the body size of the power section is 14mm, and it has a weight of 100g, its compact size makes transportation convenient.

Moreover, it is designed for "high power" - with more than 8w of output, it can fully recharge two cellular phones. Practical uses include those at businesses involving the outdoors or automobiles, and as a mobile recharging station during disasters and other "calamities."

Although it is listed as Open Price, Bic Camera will sell the charger for 23,400 yen.

Also o­n the release schedule is a charger that does not operate off solar energy; instead, it is charged during the night with a normal AC adapter, and it stores power to recharge a device during the day. This "business kit" will be released at the same time, for the price of 18,200 yen.



Inspired by:
http://www.computernews.com/DailyNews/2004/07/200407200518936392862020.htm

Bic Camera Homepage:
http://www.biccamera.com

NTT Advanced Technology Homepage:
http://www.ntt-at.co.jp/