Sony Ericsson C901 Greenheart Preview

We all need to be more aware of our environment and of our actions that could have a negative effect on the materials available that we use. If we do not, those materials may run out, either because they come from a finite supply or because there is no time for the replacement cycle for such materials to run through and replenish existing supplies. Sony Ericsson are demonstrating knowledge of this fact with the announcement of the Sony Ericsson C901 Greenheart.

With a name that sounds like it is dedicated to some mythological warrior, the Greenheart demonstrates that with a bit of lateral thinking, it is possible for mobile phone manufacturers to do their bit towards making use of materials in a much more sustainable manner. For example, there is no manual with the C901 Greenheart, which instantly cuts out about 95% of all paper usage in the manufacture of mobile phones. But, for those who need a manual, fear not, as the C901 Greenheart has an electronic manual installed on the device. A simple solution, and one I hope Sony Ericsson include on future handsets too, and that this is not just a one-off gimmick.

But that is not all, for Sony Ericsson has reduced all unnecessary packaging with the C901 Greenheart, which is to be applauded. Nice packaging may make for good presentation, but once the box is opened and the phone removed, it becomes just another waste. The device itself is made up in part from recycled plastic, and comes with a Bluetooth headset that is made from 100% recycled plastic.

So, to the handset itself. Is being green enough to make this a popular device? Well, if that was the sole selling point I would have to say probably not. But the fact is the C901 Greenheart is packed with the latest mobile phone technology, so you can buy this device safe in the knowledge that not only are you doing your bit for the environment, but getting a good phone in the bargain.

To start, the C901 is equipped with a high quality 5.0 Megapixel camera, complete with auto focus, and still a rarity on a mobile device, a true Xenon flash. Although there is no GPS on the device, geotagging can still be used by utilising Cell ID, where your location is determined by triangulating your position from the three nearest cell sites. The camera is also equipped with face and smile detection, as well as smart contrast and red eye reduction. Video recording is also enabled on the device and there is a light which can be used for video recording in low light conditions.

Equipped with HSDPA Mobile Broadband, the C901 is able to load web pages quickly, and pages are well presented with the on board NetFront browser doing an excellent job in page rendering. The built in accelerometer allows you to quickly and easily browse web pages in landscape mode as opposed to the standard portrait setup.

The display on the device is standard Sony Ericsson, a QVGA offering measuring 2.2 inches and supporting up to 262,000 colours. Adequate enough, but with Nokia and now Samsung making use of higher resolution displays, Sony Ericsson really will need to start improving theirs. Also, it would have been nice to see an OLED display used, given the eco message of the device.

Other features on the handset are as you would expect from a high end Sony Ericsson mobile phone. A fully featured media player is included, for playing back popular music and video formats, and there is the always useful Track ID application. A native YouTube application is included as standard, as is support for mobile blogging, uploading pictures and text to your blog on the move, simple and easy. With another shout to the ‘Green-ness’ of the C901, Sony Ericsson have also included a C02 calculator, so you can calculate your own carbon footprint.

The C901 Greenheart is supplied in white, which Sony Ericsson describes as an ocean white. In line with the handsets green credentials, the paint used on the device is waterborne paint, which has less volatile organic components that solvent based paints do. Sony Ericsson is to be congratulated for bringing environmental concerns into the manufacture of their mobile devices. Of course, a one-off, ‘look at us, aren’t we clever’ device isn’t enough, and I hope that moving forward all such devices will be made from similar materials and recycled plastics where possible. Release date expected June/July 2009.

Related Sony Ericsson C901 Greenheart Links

• Compare the latest Sony Ericsson C901 Greenheart deals
• Compare Sony Ericsson C901 Greenheart pay as you go prices
• Read user Sony Ericsson C901 Greenheart reviews