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Cell phone manufacturer Umeox Mobile (China) is best known for its release, last year, of a solar powered cell phone based on the Android operating system. The phone, dubbed Apollo, incorporates a 3.2in. (8.1cm) 320 x 480 pixel display, plus 1GB of memory with a microSD expansion slot, FM radio, Bluetooth 2.1 A2DP, 3-megapixel rear camera and a 3.5 mm audio jack. An integrated solar panel covering the phone's rear panel allows the phone to operate when its batteries are depleted. For daily usage, spot recharging of the device requires about 2.5 hours of sunlight exposure; a complete battery recharge requires about 17 hours.
As reported by GreenMuze, two Apollo models are extant, an 850/1900MHz US version, and a 900/1800MHz European and Asian model. Interconnection World sister site Renewable Energy World (REW) has reported that the phone represents "the state of the art on the very low end of solar power." The Apollo's integrated solar charger is a step up from more physically cumbersome, less conversion-efficient designs of the same type of phone that incorporate charging panels based on CIGS [Copper indium gallium selenide] photovoltaic cells.
In blog commentary, REW's Dana Blankenhorn determined that while the Apollo solar phone, at its inception stage, is almost "a gimmick", its design opens the door to some more intriguing connectivity options. Blankenhorn wrote that, "Given the size-and-shape of this panel, it's easy to conceive of an iPhone charger disguised as a case and a USB plug at the base, allowing you to recharge the unit with a standard retractable Firewire dock connector. For Android you just use a different connector."
Sources: Apollo Solar Cell Phone (greenmuze.com)
Umeox Shows Next Step in Solar Evolution (renewableenergyworld.com)
The Umeox Apollo Is Powered By Android (umeox.com)
