Sprint Gets Eco-Friendly with Samsung Reclaim Phone

The case on Samsung's Reclaim phone uses 80 percent recyclable materials and bio-plastic made from corn...and every purchase helps fuel the Nature Conservancy.

Sprint is eager to let consumers express their eco-friendliness by buying a new phone…in the form of the Samsung Reclaim, a QWERTY-equipped handset made from 80 percent recyclable materials and featuring a case that’s 40 percent bio-plastic made from corn. And, every purchase of a Samsung Reclaim sends $2 to the Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program in support of land conservation.

“Sprint is widely recognized as a leader among telecommunications companies in environmentally-responsible initiatives, and today we are proud to announce an even stronger commitment to sustainability with new eco-friendly products and programs,” said Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, in a statement.

The Samsung reclaim features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for texting and messaging, a 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth 2.0, an integrated Web browser, and up to 32 GB of removable memory storage (presumably via microSD cards). The Reclaim also features Sprint Navigation with Search, which includes GPS-enables services so we’re hoping that means the phone actually includes GPS capability. The Reclaim phone also features one-button access to “green applications” including guides to green living from the Discovery Channel. The Reclaims’ packaging will also be environmentally friendly, opting for a downloadable manual instead of a printed copy, and materials made from 70 percent recycled materials and using soy-based inks.

The Reclaim will go on sale August 16 for $49.99 after both a $30 instant rebate and a $50 mail-in rebate, with a two year service agreement. The Reclaim will also hit Wal-mart in September.