KDDI and Sharp Announce Solar Phone

KDDI and Sharp have announced the world first debut of a waterproof solar panel powered handset will be available for sale in Japan as of early June. The eco-friendly design will enable an estimated 1 minute of voice usage for every 10 minutes of charging time, under ideal conditions, and appears set to be the first of several innovative models planned for future release. The code-named Voyage, Soup and Gem concept designs are featured Here.

As part of the Green Road Project with over 4 Million documented kilometers jogged by registered members of AU Smart Sports - therefore over $40,000 donated already - KDDI has carved a niche in the enviromential preservation space in a few short months. The company has tie-up with TV Asahi and is running major PR campaigns around many upcoming sports and marathon events scheduled in Japan this year.