Samsung and AT&T announce the Evergreen

On the day before the US release of Windows Phone, Samsung is going to sneak in a new messaging phone that is built with 70% recycled post-consumer plastics and packaging that utilizes 80% recycled post-consumer paper. Available at AT&T on November 7th, the Samsung Evergreen will sell for $29.99 after a $50.00 mail in rebate and a 2 year contract. The new Samsung Evergreen owner will also have to pony up another $20 a month for messaging or combination of messaging/data plan which is required by AT&T.

I am not really wild about the form factor as the front facing number pad and a slide out keyboard just don’t seem to play nice together. Personally I would like to see the numeric keyboard real estate better used by expanding the display. I do applaud the efforts of Samsung and AT&T and hope more companies take responsibility by recycling.

Pictures below and a the press release by AT&T after that.

Dallas, Nov. 1, 2010 —
 
Key Facts
·         AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.**,, today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Evergreen™, a quick messaging phone built with 70% recycled post-consumer plastics and packaging that utilizes 80% recycled post-consumer paper.
·         Samsung Mobile announced it will donate $1 for every Samsung Evergreen device sold, with a maximum donation of $100,000, to the non-profit organization Cell Phones for Soldiers®.
·         The Evergreen will be available beginning November 7 at AT&T company owned stores nationwide or at AT&T for $29.99 after $50 mail-in rebate (pay $79.99 and after mail-in rebate receive $50 AT&T Promotion Card.  Two-year agreement and $20 a month messaging or combination of messaging/data plan required).
 
The Evergreen meets strict RoHS standards (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) 1, including being free of PVC2, BFR3 and Beryllium and is powered by an Energy Star Version  2.0 qualified energy efficient charger (level V) with standby power loss less than 0.03W and an energy efficiency of less than 75 percent. The Evergreen’s packaging is made from 80 percent recycled post-consumer paper, uses soy ink and is 100 percent recyclable4. Inside the box, customers will find a CD, replacing the traditional paper user guide, with information on an interactive tutorial, the phone’s user manual, games & apps and AT&T’s recycling program. In addition, the device features eco-oriented wallpaper and ringtones.
 
To celebrate the launch of the Evergreen, Samsung Mobile announced it will donate $1 for every device sold, with a maximum donation of $100,000, to the non-profit organization Cell Phones for Soldiers®. Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has raised millions of dollars in donations and distributed millions of prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas. Samsung Mobile and AT&T encourage consumers to give back to both the environment and to the armed forces serving overseas.
 
In 2009, AT&T collected more than 4.2 million cell phones for reuse and recycling and over 1.8 million pounds of batteries and accessories.  AT&T offers customers three ways to donate old cell phones and accessories: drop-off bins in our 2,000-plus retail locations; free, prepaid mailing envelopes available in the stores; and postage-paid mailing labels available via our web site at AT&T Reuse & Recycle.
 
The Evergreen, which has a 2.4” display, features a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard for effortless typing and texting.  With one-key access to messages, staying in touch with friends and family is easy and fun. Additional key features include a 2.0 megapixel camera and video camcorder, AT&T Navigator and stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology v2.1 + SSP. The Evergreen also includes dual-band 3G connectivity and quad-band GSM technology, which allows AT&T customers to make calls in more than 220 countries and download data in more than 195.
 
Quotes          
“This year AT&T worked to provide simpler solutions for customers, first with the ZERO charger and now the Samsung Evergreen,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Taking steps to reduce the amount of environmentally sensitive materials in the device and increase the amount of recycled paper in packaging are small steps, which in the end, lead to a healthier environment.”
 
“Samsung Mobile is committed to making our products more eco-friendly5 and we are proud to offer AT&T customers an eco-centric5 device with an impressive feature set and stylish design,” said Omar Khan, Chief Strategy Officer, Samsung Mobile. “The Evergreen is made of 70% post-consumer recycled plastics and as a whole is 83% recyclable4. It also features reduced and recyclable packaging4, a CD to replace the user manual and an Energy Star qualified charger. ”
 
“We support AT&T’s approach to incorporating environmental considerations directly into regular, ongoing discussions with suppliers and the company’s desire to improve the overall environmental impact of all handsets,” said Eric Olson, Senior Vice President, Advisory Services, BSR. “Through our interactions with AT&T, we feel that AT&T’s work on handsets is consistent with its broader focus on sustainability issues, as evidenced by the recognition AT&T has received through the Carbon Disclosure Project and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America,”.
 
For more information on the Evergreen, please visit the AT&T Web site.