Water Recycling USA

The green cell phones and concept phones of 2009 represent a truly unique convergence of technology and innovative ideas. In compiling this list we were looking for cutting-edge renewable power sources, use of recycled or easily-recyclable materials, zero toxic substances, and enhanced capabilities. We've also included the use of recycled and minimized packaging and thinner user manuals (for the actual phones) in our criteria.

Here are what's available and what's possible in 2009. Enjoy.

Samsung's Blue Earth

Samsung's innovative Blue Earth phone is the first solar powered full-touch phone. Engineered to resemble a a flat and well rounded shiny pebble, Blue Earth is made of PCM recycled plastic and is free from toxic materials like BFR and phthalate. It boasts of energy-efficient user interface and charger and has a built-in pedometer that can indicate the amount of CO2 emissions the user has reduced by walking.

Magic Stone

The Magic Stone is still on paper but it promises to be a most fascinating piece of technology ever invented. For one, users can specify their preferred shape of the device when they order the phones online. Powered by electromagnetic charge emitted from remote transmitters, Magic Stone will never need recharging. As backup, it is coated with nano-material capable of converting sunlight into energy. It boasts of a touch screen interface and built-in holographic projector.

LG Pop Cell Phone

Back in October, LG introduced the GD510 or POP, a cell phone that comes with an optional battery cover that is also a solar cell, allowing users to charge the battery with sunlight. You can have 2.25 minutes of talk time or 180 minutes of standby by charging your phone for 10 minutes under the sun. The Pop is crafted from brushed aluminum which gives it a high-end look, has no toxic materials like BFR and PVC, and comes in recycled packaging.

Mobile Script

The concept Mobile Script phone is definitely one of the best concept devices this year. Featuring dual touch screen displays, it boasts of a flexible and retractable OLED display that can become rigid when charged allowing the user maximum viewing space when needed. For power, it comes coated with photo sensitive coating using nano technology to harness solar energy.

Sony Ericsson Elm and Hazel

The Elm and Hazel Phones are the latest offering by Sony Ericsson in its GreenHeart portfolio. Compared to the other concept phones featured here, these have humbler eco-friendly credentials but I'm including them here because they're real phones available for purchase and because they're made from recycled plastic. The Elm and Hazel boasts of a highly efficient battery system, zero hazardous chemicals, and minimized packaging.

Zeri Concept Phone

My persona on Ikariam is Kwisatz Haderach (from Frank Herbert's Dune sci-fi books), so the Zeri green concept phone which features a top end that looks like the mouth of a worm of Arrakis is something special for me. This concept phone runs on a unique and original power source. The worm-like mouth is in fact, a mesh of knitted metal wires that detect and transform changes in temperature into energy while it is in your pocket. It can also convert air vibrations into usable power through hair-thin generators on piezoelectric system.

Xperia X001 Concept Phone

Created by Jozef Kocur, the X001 is the latest Xperia concept cell phone. This smartphone approaches the question of green power in a, well, smart way. Created from a solid piece of aluminum, this sleek eco-friendly phone combines the power of a solar cell and a methanol battery. The methanol case is transparent and provides a unique appearance to the front of the X001, while the solar panel can be seen at the back side.

Sticky Phone

Created by designer Liu Hsiang-Ling, the Sticky Phone concept is based on the idea that many users habitually place their phones near a window for optimum signal reception. This eco-friendly phone of the future has an arched back and is molded on polysiloxane (silicone). It can be attached to your glass panes where it can absorb solar energy via a solar panel at the back of the phone.

Touchwood Phone

The Touchwood is still in prototype stage and is made with the surplus wood of trees culled during thinning operations to maintain healthy forests. It boasts of an authentic cypress wood body, and developed by ITT Docomo of Japan in collaboration with Sharp Corporation, Olympus Corporation, and More Trees, a reforestation project founded by musician Ryuichi Sakamoto and others.

Magnet Phone

Designed by Tryi Yeh, the Magnet Phone concept is solar-powered - enabling the user to recharge the cell phone anytime, anywhere with renewable energy from the sun. Sporting a light OLED panel, the nifty device comes with a large solar panel cell and can be customized to suit the user's tastes. You can listen to your favorite music tracks, watch videos, and play games on the Magnet Phone without worrying much about charging this eco-friendly device.