LG shows off solar phone, battery cover at MWC

Proving (as usual) that it's not too big for a little tit-for-tat with its crosstown rival, LG showed its own concept solar phone at MWC this week to match up with Samsung's Blue Earth. The prototype LG handset doesn't have a name -- takes a whole team of high-priced consultants to christen a product like that, we'd wager -- but we do know that the slider can eke 3 minutes' worth of life out of a 10-minute charge in natural light. The thing looks like it was thrown together in a week, but hey, as long as it works, we know LG can take care of the design side of things by the time production rolls around.

[TT Posted Feb 21st 2009 11:40AM]

Isn't that just a Secret with cheap solar panels strapped against it's back?

[spasewalkr Posted Feb 21st 2009 11:54AM]

seriously! they look like they were just taped on. photoshopped on maybe.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 12:38PM]

Yeah, it totally looks like the KF750 with solar panels stuck on the back, notice the 5.0 mp camera that's slim. Perhaps it's for testing purposes?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 11:40AM]

So... does the solar phone only grow on the north side of rocks & trees?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2009 8:49AM]

yes. It's a South Korean native vegetation, cultivated mostly during mild winter to late spring. Typically of dark blue hue, it is sensitive to strong lights.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 11:46AM]

whats written near those circles on the phone ? is it 5 mega pixels ?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 12:31PM]

well said TT.
o basically, beside me is the LG secret. Either LG decided to hire a 5 year old to photoshop them a new rear cover, or someone is just f***ing with me.

@Techmaddy
yes, it is 5 mega pixels. (only reason I decided to try the secret)

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 12:39PM]

Interesting! What kind of rock is in the one in the background?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 1:07PM]

3 minutes of work out of ten minutes of charging - 18 minutes of life out of an hour of charge. Let's say that in perfect conditions you get 10 hours of sunlight - that gives 180minutes of work,which is merely 3 hours of phone life........I don't think it's suitable for everyday charging the phone.....but I see it's a perfect solution in places where there is no AC outlet available.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 1:24PM]

You talk on your cell for 3 hours out of every day? Damn, I'd hate to see your monthly bill.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 2:19PM]

I think he'll be worried only when the doc announces, "sorry buddy but you got a tumor in your head".

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 3:12PM]

I don't talk that much :P But I listen to music a lot,and browse the internet......I guess these are also also battery hungry activities.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 5:45PM]

Exactly, I mean this could be a lifesaver if you're ever stranded, but they damn well include an AC adapter with this thing otherwise it's practically useless. Unless of course you live near the equator.

[finnith Posted Feb 22nd 2009 11:34PM]

equator=hot not more sunlight

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 1:08PM]

I wonder how powerful this cell can really be considering any solar product I've ever had (even my crappy solar calculator) sucks.

[urza9814 Posted Feb 21st 2009 1:11PM]

You know, 3 minutes talk time off 10 minutes charge time isn't too bad...now I just need to start being nocturnal so I can charge it while I sleep.

Seriously, this is pretty pointless. I can see it maybe being helpful if you're in an emergency situation and your phone has died, but otherwise it seems that most people would charge their phone while they sleep, and it's generally hard to get natural sunlight at that time.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 7:51PM]

It's not pointless - the concept should have been done years ago. Are you on your phone all day long? As in for the full 10 hours of the working day? If not, whilst that phone is sitting around waiting for the next call it's quietly charging the battery - which means that instead of having to charge your phone every 2-3 days from the wall socket, you might get away with a charge every 2-3 weeks.

All mobile devices should have some sort of solar-power feature to trickle-charge the batteries whilst it's not in use. It will increase the time in between full charges. The issue is to get something that small to convert energy efficiently - efficiency is still poor, but it is improving with refinements to solar cells.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 1:47PM]

Think They'll Come Out With Pants With A Hole So It Will Charge While It's In Your Pocket?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 1:56PM]

Introducing the Giorgio Armani See-through Collection.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 21st 2009 1:57PM]

Is that a phone on your hat?

Yes, it's charging.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2009 10:48AM]

Actually, if everyone in the world wore a solar cell strip on their heads, there'd be no global warming.

[EI8HT Posted Feb 21st 2009 5:14PM]

this phone and i have a lot in common...it takes me about 10 minutes to heat up my wife for only about 3 minutes of work



ok...maybe 3 minutes is pushing it a bit

[stridermt2k Posted Feb 21st 2009 6:11PM]

It's something,

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2009 4:22PM]

Personally, I'd rather have a solar cell phone charger. I like to keep my cell where the sun doesn't shine. In my pocket.

[scape Posted Feb 23rd 2009 9:14AM]

this concept makes little to no sense to me. It's strongest use would be joe-shmoe camping and needing a quick call. Putting your cell in direct sunlight is pretty unlikely under normal circumstances...I just don't see this taking off. and what happens if you drop it? I think you're better off with those dynamo chargers, to charge up your cellphone greenly...