Sprint Offers 'Green' Samsung PhoneSprint Offers 'Green' Samsung Phone

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Sprint's Samsung Reclaim

Sprint Nextel is trying to be more environmentally conscious, and the wireless operator has launched a "green" phone and set aggressive goals to increase its sustainability efforts.

The Samsung Reclaim is a slider phone with a full QWERTY keyboard. Forty percent of the handset's outer casing is made from a bio-plastic material. The Reclaim is free of polyvinyl chloride and phthalates, and its packaging is made from mostly recycled materials. The handset will also come with an Energy Star charger that reportedly consumes 12 times less power than traditional chargers.

Users won't have to sacrifice usability to be green, Sprint said, as the Reclaim has access to 3G networks, Bluetooth, GPS, expandable memory, and a Web browser. The user interface also will have one-click access to sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube.

"Samsung Reclaim enables customers to go green while getting the latest in wireless technology," said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse in a statement. "When customers walk into a Sprint retail store, they will be greeted by the information they need to make earth-friendly wireless choices, couple with Ready Now to learn about the rich functionality of this device."

The company said it will be making its green initiatives a visible part of its retail stores with dedicated sections highlighting the carrier's eco-friendly products and accessories. Additionally, Sprint said it will reduce its paper usage by 30% during the next five years.

So far, it is unclear how strong consumer demand is for these greens phones; Sprint is just the latest mobile company to tout its green initiatives. Sony Ericsson recently introduced an environmentally friendly handset and has committed to reducing the company's carbon emissions 20% by 2015.

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