Digicel launching ZTE's Coral-200-Solar phone in emerging markets

It may not have the glam or the flash of the Samsung Blue Earth, but ZTE's Coral-200-Solar takes solar power to a side of the market that needs it far, far more urgently -- the side without power outlets. The Chinese manufacturer is teaming up with Jamaica's Digicel Group to roll out one of the world's first mass-market solar cellphones to folks with "limited or no access to the power grid," which represents some 2 billion people around the globe. The phone gets its juice via an integrated solar charger -- that is, there's still a battery lurking in there, you just don't need an outlet to charge it -- and should be available by June of this year. Pretty amazing world we live in where people have mobiles before they have power, isn't it?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 16th 2009 9:56AM]

Great concept, I hope that the price is low enough for the countries that need it

[Snowman Posted Feb 13th 2009 8:07PM]

As a Jamaican I don't know what the hell you're talking about us not having power. The power company is called Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, JPS for sure. Please remember your audience is worldwide and not just in America...this article was pretty insulting...and could in no way be taken as funny.

On a side note, Coral makes the worst phones in the world.

[Chris Posted Feb 13th 2009 8:32PM]

I don't believe we said anywhere that this phone is launching just in Jamaica, if it's even launching there at all. ZTE is partnering with Digicel on the launch, but that's all that has been announced thus far. And where are we trying to be funny in the article?

[Snowman Posted Feb 13th 2009 8:59PM]

You failed....sorry.

[Chris Posted Feb 13th 2009 9:22PM]

At what?

[Snowman Posted Feb 13th 2009 9:41PM]

At being funny. Anyways, I found your article insulting, you said it was not meant to be....there's nothing more to be said as far as I can see, so I'm done.

[Chris Posted Feb 13th 2009 9:52PM]

Alllrighty then! Good day.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 14th 2009 6:04AM]

Well Chris, the way you structured your sentences imply that at least in some places of Jamaica there are no power outlets i.e. there are people living who are not connected to the power grid. Since ZTE is partnering with Digicel Jamaica then it's most likely that the target market is Jamaica.

However, it's quite true that some people are living in Jamaica without electrical power. I don't know whether or not they have mobiles or if they would rather pay to have a mobile than to have electricity. I don't think you know either. Unless you have evidence to back up what you have implied, it makes the last sentence very rude and insulting as Neil rightly said.

Keep in mind that sometimes it's not the fault of the individual that they are without electrical power. If the local power grid does not reach their area or deem it profitable to erect the necessary infrastructure to distribute electrical power to their area of residence then they may be left sending requests to the power company! This happens sometimes in the Caribbean and around the world because of monopolies knowing they don't need to focus on giving good consumer service.

I think Digicel will be marketing this phone based off of convenience because in the Caribbean we get plenty of sun and solar power simply makes sense. Anyone with a mobile knows how annoying it is to be running out of charge and there is no phone charger in sight. This phone would be a neat solution to this annoying problem and can be powered wirelessly.

I hope this solar power charging in phones becomes standard.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2009 11:22PM]

As for me Chris, I also think it's amazing and more than funny. I would be glad to know I don't have to rely on JPS for any power at all. At least those unfortunate folkes will not be discriminated against anymore as far as owning a cell phone is concerned. Your article is more than welcome. It's an eye opener to an excellent solution. Well, pricing and safety(having a power box at my ear - not just a battery) are my only concerns. I'm a Jamaican by the way born and still living here for much more than 25 yrs.

I note that you said Jamaica's Digicel Group.