Sprint, Samsung Get Green

Sprint and Samsung are joining forces on the green trail, announcing Aug. 6 the Samsung Reclaim, the first phone in the United States constructed from eco-friendly, bio-plastic materials. The Reclaim — made from 80 percent recyclable materials — is available from Sprint for $49.99 with a two-year service agreement. The phones go on sale Aug. 16.

The Reclaim’s bio-plastic material is made from corn and makes up 40 percent of the phone’s outer casing. The outer packaging and the phone tray inside the box are made from 70 percent recycled materials and the images and text on the box as well as the phone warranty information are printed with soy-based ink. The typical manual has been replaced with virtual instructions found online.

“Samsung Reclaim enables customers to go green while getting the latest in wireless technology,” Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said in a statement. “When customers walk into a Sprint retail store, they will be greeted by the information they need to make earth-friendly wireless choices, coupled with Ready Now to learn about the rich functionality of this device.”

The Reclaim features 3G network access, a slider QWERTY keyboard, GPS with location-based services and a one-click button for mobile Web access to sites including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube. The phone also includes a two-megapixel camera with 3x digital zoom and camcorder, stereo Bluetooth and expandable memory storage up to 32GB.

“Samsung Reclaim is more than just an eco-friendly device, it’s also a powerful and stylish phone that’s easy to use,” said Omar Khan, senior vice president of Strategy and Product Management for Samsung Mobile. “When you combine the Reclaim’s impressive feature set with its bio-plastic hardware and eco-friendly packaging, you’re using a phone that is good for you and the environment.”

When customers purchase Samsung Reclaim from Sprint, $2 of the proceeds will benefit The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program, which supports land conservation across the United States.