Freeplay order doesn't go like clockwork

FREEPLAY ENERGY - which is best known for its clockwork radio - has run into trouble with a batch of phone chargers intended for Nigeria. Testing has delayed initial shipments to Africa.

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.

, 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