Samsung and LG are both planning to unveil prototype solar-powered cell phones next week.
The Samsung model, dubbed "Blue Earth", has a touchscreen with solar cells covering the its back side. The phone is made entirely from recycled plastic and is free of hazardous chemicals -- including beryllium, phthalates, and brominated flame retardants (BFR) -- commonly found in electronics.
LG has released limited information about its phone, but solar panels will reportedly also cover the back of the case.
Commercial release of the two phones is probably a long way off -- LG says it won't go public with a solar-powered model until it can provide three minutes of talk time after 10 minutes of charging. Both Samsung and LG are staying silent about pricing and potential release dates.