However, it might already have been beaten to the punch as Chinese manufacturer HiTech Wealth has unveiled what it’s claiming is the world’s first solar power phone , the S116.

The S116 is a clamshell, with the entire back covered in tiny solar panels.

HTW says the S116 can generate up to 40 minutes of talk time from one hour positioned in direct sunlight. Using the back cover has got around a problem that has plagued previous attempts to power portable devices.

The Apple iphone would also get around the problem but a little differently by placing the solar cells underneath the screen and the LCD. This would allow the screen to act as a solar panel.

As concerns about green issues have grown, the challenge of fitting portable devices with solar power chargers has become paramount for the major brands.

And improvements in battery design means that portable devices such as mobile phones may never need a plug-in charger again. You will soon be able to last for up to a week without recharging.

It's feasible that manufacturers could charge up your mobile phone once in the factory and then rely on the integrated solar panels to make sure that the battery is constantly topped up.

To return to our solar energy home page.

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