Sun powers stars' cells on Oscar night

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HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The makers of a solar-powered charger for cell phones are hitching a ride with Hollywood's hottest stars to pitch their product on Oscar night.

Universal Communications announced Thursday that it had donated 40 of its SC003 chargers for use at the March 5 Academy Awards gala in Hollywood, where cells have become a standard accoutrement.

"Those stylish chargers can keep participating celebrities chatting away to their friends, families and agents on the big night before, during, and after their saunter down the red carpet without having to stop and plug in," Universal said in a news release.

The chargers are being facilitated through the S.W.A.G.G. (Sustainability, Wellness and Green Gifts) program that also gives celebs the option of pulling up to the red carpet in a clean-burning alternative-fuel limo.

Solar phone charges do have a serious side, however. They are seen as a key to the expansion of wireless communications capabilities to remote regions of the world that don't have easy access to electricity to recharge handsets.