Ina Fried

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Sprint Hopes To Find Green with Eco-Friendly Android Device

Sprint today is expected to announce the Replenish– its first “green” Android device.

In addition to its potential appeal to the environmentally conscious, the move is yet another example of the ways in which device makers and carriers are looking to tailor Android to address specific markets.

The announcement, expected shortly, comes as Sprint CEO Dan Hesse is set to talk at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on the topic of environmental issues in relation to the cell phone industry. (Mobilized is at the event and I’ll update on anything interesting that comes out of the talk.)

The news itself is a bit recycled, given that Samsung briefly leaked the Replenish on its own Web site and Sprint’s site also included a reference to it at one point.

Sprint, which prides itself on being number six on Newsweek’s list of the 100 greenest companies in America, already has three eco-friendly models, though all of the previous models were feature phones.

Update 11:35 a.m.: Sprint has made it official, offering up a few more details on the Replenish. The device will sell for $49 with a two year contract and be available starting May 8.

On the tech side, it will feature a 2.8-inch screen, Android 2.2 (Froyo) and have access to a new green-theme Sprint ID pack. On the eco-front, Sprint says it will feature an optional $29 solar battery charging accessory and noted the device features reduced use of environmentally sensitive materials and is made up of more than a third post-consumer recycled plastic.

To make the device more attractive, Hesse said Sprint will offer the Replenish with a data plan that is $10 cheaper than its plans for other phones.

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