a sunny future for phones

September 30, 2009 at 10:47 am Leave a comment

With an erratic supply of power to contend with, mobile phone users in emerging markets are turning their phones skywards – CNN reports that Safaricom has launched Kenya’s first solar charged phone.

Despite the limited availability of power, Kenya has one of the most vibrant cell phone markets in Africa, analysts say. An estimated 17 million Kenyans use mobile phones.

Some charge phones on bicycle-run generators, Joseph said. Or like, Gathungu, they pay businesses in major cities to charge their phones, sometimes waiting an entire day.

“There’s an enormous need for a device like this,” Joseph said of the solar phone, which can charge during talk time, as long as there are rays. “They will continue to charge on natural light, even on cloudy days,” he added.