Freeplay order doesn't go like clockwork

Freeplay did a deal with the Hong Kong subsidiary of WP Phones to distribute two models of 'Freechargers' and has given it exclusive distribution rights in sub-Saharan Africa.

Over five years the deal will provide Freeplay with a minimum of one million units sales.

Obviously emerging countries are an ideal target market for these 'wind-up' chargers since access to electricity is frequently non-existent in rural areas.

Freeplay now says that units intended for Africa will now start shipping this year instead of last year [2006], as anticipated.

But given that Dell is now planting trees on behalf of its desktop and notebook customers, wouldn't a Freecharger be a logical way for a mobile phone subscriber to reduce his or her carbon dioxide emissions?

Seeing that the Freecharger is compatible with Nokia, BenQ/Siemens, Motorola, Samsung, Nextel and Sony Ericsson handsets, there's plenty of scope for a handset vendor to improve its 'green' credentials.

Incidentally, around forty-five seconds of winding provides about three minutes of call time. So that's about 18 minutes of winding for an hour of talking.

The Freecharge can be purchased online in both Europe and North America. In the States, the charger is available through the aptly named Ordertree for $59.99. µ

L'INQ
Ordertree