Sprint Nextel marked its foray into the 'green cell phone' market on Thursday, introducing an eco-friendly smartphone - the Samsung Reclaim! Unveiling the new phone, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said that nearly 40 percent of Reclaim's shell is made of corn-based bio-plastics, and almost 80 percent of the entire phone is recyclable!

To be available August 16 onwards from Sprint, Best Buy and Radio Shack, the Samsung Reclaim would cost $49.99, after rebates, for customers who subscribe to a two- year service plan. The phone that comes in two colors - Earth Green and Ocean Blue - will hit the Wal-Mart stores in September.

Talking about Sprint's green initiatives, reflected by its association with the Samsung Reclaim, Hesse, addressing a press conference at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, New York, said: "We are proud of the Reclaim and the progress it reflects."

The most notable features of the 'green' Reclaim are a slide-down QWERTY keypad; 3G data network support; a Sprint Navigation software-enabled GPS receiver; a microSD slot; and lithium ion batteries.

Boasting of a singular AC adapter that beeps to remind the users to unplug the phone once it is charged, the Reclaim also features stereo Bluetooth support; a Web browser; a 2-megapixel camera with 3X digital zoom; video recording facility; and a standard headphone jack.

The Reclaim comes without a manual; users can download it from Sprint!