Nokia peddles pedal-powered charger
Bike power
Nokia may be losing the smartphone battle but it continues to make the running in developing countries. And maybe for tree huggers too.
The handset maker has devised the Nokia Bicycle Charger Kit – a charger and dynamo and a holder to secure the phone to the bike.
Get pedalling and the dynamo uses the movement of the wheels to charge your Nokia handset. Simple, huh!
Says Alex Lambeek, a Nokia veep: “This is a great solution to a real challenge, whether people will use it due to limited access to electricity, or to be more environmentally responsible.”
Quite right.
It is common enough for the rural poor in many countries to have no electricity in their homes. But they may have a mobile phone – they cycle to a phone shop in the nearest town to re-charge.
So there could be a massive market here – if Nokia prices it right. Press reports suggest the charger should retail at about €15.
The Nokia Bicycle Charger Kit is out before the end of the year through selected retailers and through Nokia online.
COMMENTS
Dude...
...that is SO going to get nicked.
Otherwise very nice, especially the pricing level.
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True, so the blogs should change their narrative. This is getting painful. Evil Steve, because of the narrative.
Exactly what I wanted
On a recent bike tour. Had to use one of those AA-powered emergency chargers instead (to keep Nokia Maps going!).
good idea but not new
A friend of mine has a dynamo in the hub of his front wheel providing regulated 5V power via a USB socket. He used it over the just ended summer to keep his iPhone 3GS charged while he bicycled 4000 km around New Zealand. The iPhone was recording GPS coordinates continuously (and uploading to RunKeeper.com) as well as being used as a still and movie camera (uploaded to twitpic and flickr) and everything else you'd expect to do with your phone.
Really?
"Nokia may be losing the smartphone battle"
Really?! So 40% and growing market share is losing?
