Sprint intros Samsung’s Restore eco-friendly phone

The name makes it sound more like a hard drive feature than a mobile phone, but Samsung’s new Restore joins the Reclaim on Sprint’s line of eco-friendly devices. So here’s the deal: the Restore gets its green credentials with a build that’s made up of 84 percent recyclable materials and comes in a recyclable box that packs an energy efficient charger. To further drive home the point (in case you didn’t get it in the first place), the phone also comes in a rather pleasant shade of green, but there’s also an all-black variant if green’s not your thing.

It’s an entry-level phone that mostly centers on a low price and easy operation, with a slide-out qwerty keyboard for quick messaging and a spec that’s pretty basic: a 2MP cam, microSDHC slot (it comes with a 2GB card), and Bluetooth connectivity. No Wi-fi or smartphone OS to keep the price low.

Sprint is set to ship it in the summer for $50 with a contract after a $50 rebate.