Digicel Coral-200-Solar Low Cost Solar Powered Cellphone

The mobile telecommunications operator, Digicel Group has announced the launch of the new Coral-200-Solar, which ZTE (the manufacturer of Coral-200-Solar) claims as the world’s first low-cost solar-powered handset, utilizing innovative technology from Dutch-based innovator Intivation.

“Solar-powered handsets are clearly the way to meet the needs of power-challenged users across the globe,” said Tom Bryant, Digicel Group VP Distribution Procurement. “While the idea of solar-powered handsets has been around for some time, it has taken the leadership of Digicel and the technology and manufacturing skills of its partners Intivation and ZTE to make the Coral-200-Solar handset a reality. This marks another first for Digicel and we think our customers are going to love this great device.”

“As mobile phones continue to proliferate in emerging markets and are widely used where electricity is available, mobile operators are demanding more innovative handsets,” said Mr Xiong Hui, VP of ZTE’s handset division. “We are confident that the Digicel Coral-200-Solar is such a product and that solar power technology can be used in any type of handset. We are pleased to provide this handset with Digicel and Intivation. It will help millions of consumers worldwide to use mobile phones more conveniently and the technology is more environment-friendly.”

Digicel plans to release the new Coral-200-Solar solar powered mobile phone in selected market starting June 2009.