South Korean electronics group Samsung showcased its first solar-powered mobile phone hoping to redress the balance on Monday at a Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

With its new Blue Earth eco-friendly handset the integrated solar panels on the back of the phone can yield a three minute call after a ten minute charge, it can also be charged normally via a plug with a five-star energy efficient wall charger that consumes less than 0.03w in standby.

The mobile phone also includes a so-called 'eco-walk' function, which uses a built-in pedometer to calculate how much CO2 is being saved if you walk instead of drive and the front user interface can adjust screen brightness depending on whether the user is outside or inside.

The phone itself is made from recycled plastic water bottles.

The Samsung Blue Earth is expected to be launched in the second half of 2009.

Samsung Exercise equipment Electronics Earth