Vodafone Essar, one of the top mobile service providers in the country launched an eco-friendly solar-powered mobile phone VF 247. At a function held at the Vodafone store in Fort, Mumbai on Tuesday, Marten Pieters, MD and CEO, Vodafone Essar Ltd. unveiled the instrument along with UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne MP.
“I’m very pleased to help launch Vodafone’s new solar powered handset. It’s the new UK-India economic partnership in action. The handset will get more people connected, paying less and doing their bit for the environment,” said Rt Hon George Osborne MP after the launch.
“Reflecting a strong commitment to the Indian market, Vodafone continues to launch affordable products and services to cater to the differentiated needs of consumers,” Mr. Pieters said. “Vodafone’s solar powered phone is launched for people residing in areas where electric supply is unstable, so that consumers can rely on solar charging to remain connected. This launch is likely to enable more people in rural India to go mobile and thus increase penetration from the current 20%. We will continue to invest to uplift the quality of telecom services and products in India.”
VF 247 comes with an extended solar power battery, which will be immensely useful for rural subscribers who face the problem of erratic electric supply. The phone charges by itself on exposure to ambient light, even inside a room on a normal day, thanks to Sun Boost, the special in-built hardware and software. Eight hours of direct sunlight can fully charge the unit. This would support four hours of talk time or eight days on standby. The solar phone also has all regular features such as color screen, FM radio and a powerful torch light.
Introducing the solar phone will be helpful in boosting Vodafone’s rural network coverage, which stands second nation-wide at 65%. Vodafone also has the second largest subscriber base in India.
Vodafone VF 247 is expected to cost around Rs 1,500, which includes an electronic charger and will be commercially available in India shortly.
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