Company to release solar-powered cell phone

Cell phone users could soon be turning to the skies to charge their handsets.

Japan's No. 2 wireless carrier, KDDI Corp., said Monday it will start selling a waterproof, sunlight-powered cell phone in June. The yet-to-be-priced handset is made by Sharp Corp.

A 10-minute solar charge will provide enough juice for a one-minute call or power the handset in standby mode for two hours, KDDI said. The sun can recharge up to 80 percent of the phone's battery.

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The lower use of standard electricity will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the Tokyo-based firm said.

With Monday's announcement, KDDI has intensified the global race to develop and market "eco-friendly" products.

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Korean rival Samsung Electronics introduced a new solar-powered mobile phone in February, touting it as the world's first. The company says the phone is made from recycled plastic extracted from water bottles.

But the Suwon, South Korea-based company has not said when the handsets will go on sale or for how much.

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