World Panel on Tuesday unveiled its latest robust technology, which “streams” solar-generated electricity into mobile devices, aimed at providing charging solutions for rural mobile phone owners.
In a first step to get SunStream, showcased at AfricaCom in Cape Town this week, onto the local market, World Panel inked a retail deal with telecommunications giant Vodacom to sell the products at selected outlets.
“I originally visited Africa with a solar prototype for household purposes and was consistently asked by residents whether it could charge their phones. I have returned with a product that is essential for anyone who owns a mobile phone but who has limited access to dependable energy sources,” World Panel CEO John Anderson explained.
The US-manufactured device, which secured a US utility patent earlier this year and now had 20 design patents worldwide, would be steadily rolled out into Africa with talks under way with several small-scale distributors.
SunStream, which was able to withstand harsh conditions and water, with a shatterproof, 2 m drop-tested glass face and polymer case, retailed for R199; however, CFO Derek Cozzens hoped the device could lead to the development of microbusinesses, with consumers able to sell a charging service for neighbours in rural regions.