South Korean phone maker Samsung said it will start selling its first solar-powered phone, the Crest Solar, within the month. 
The company said the handset provides five to 10 minutes of talk time with one hour of solar charging -- ideal for rural areas where electrical outlets may be unavailable or unstable.
The Crest Solar comes with features such as a torch light, FM radio and embedded games.
The handset has security features, such as Mobile Tracker, which automatically alerts users when their SIM card is changed or sends out an SOS message in an emergency. It also has a fake call feature, so users can pretend they have an incoming call to escape unsafe situations.
Samsung also offers localized features. For example, in Southeast Asia, the handset provides incoming call alerts from selected contacts to promote safe bike riding. The handset also provides features for religions, such as alerts for prayer time.
"The Crest Solar represents our effort and commitment to strengthen our leadership in the solar panel mobile market," said JK Shin, head of Samsung's Mobile Communication Division. "The Crest Solar will be the perfect fit for anyone in any market -- not only because it is solar powered, but because it has features that were designed to appeal to various cultures."
Last February, Samsung unveiled Blue Earth, a solar-powered phone made from recycled plastic water bottles.
The Samsung Crest Solar will be available in numerous markets including India, Europe, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia and Latin America starting this month.
