AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Solar, the global manufacturer of UNI-SOLAR® lightweight, flexible solar products and a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq:ENER) is proud to announce today the commercial launch of the world's first solar-powered cover for the Amazon Kindle™ e-reader by SolarFocus Technology Co., Ltd., a leader in solar-powered portable products.

SolarFocus' SolarKindle Lighted Cover uses UNI-SOLAR's proprietary technology to charge the Kindle's internal battery as well as the cover's integrated reserve battery, which is used to power the LED reading light featured on the inside of the cover. The solar cells, located on the front of the leather cover, are charged from direct exposure to the sun, providing unlimited extended power to the device.

The SolarKindle Lighted Cover will be revealed at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week (January 10-13, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The lightweight solar cover will be recognized as a 2012 Innovations Honoree in the Eco-Design and Sustainability Technologies category. The CES is hosted by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and showcases the ground-breaking products and technologies influencing consumer technology.

"The SolarKindle Lighted Cover is a great example of the success of United Solar's Open Solar™ initiative, which allows our strategic partner, SolarFocus, to leverage the differentiation of our unique high-performance, lightweight and flexible solar cells," said Chris Bala, Vice President of Sales-Open Solar. "This innovative product represents just how easily UNI-SOLAR technology can be integrated seamlessly and cost effectively into everyday applications."

The SolarKindle Lighted Cover is available on the web at SolarFocus' webstore, solarmio.com, and at amazon.com. The product will be available through specialty retail outlets in the U.S., Canada and Europe in 2012.

United Solar, with more than 25 years experience in the solar industry, is the largest manufacturer of light weight, flexible solar panels in the world, and has been awarded nearly 70 United States patents for various technological advancements. For more information about the Open Solar initiative, please contact opensolar@uni-solar.com.

About United Solar/UNI-SOLAR®

United Solar has been a global leader in building-integrated and rooftop photovoltaics for over 25 years. The company manufactures, sells and installs thin-film solar laminates that convert sunlight into clean, renewable energy using proprietary technology for which the company has been awarded over 70 U.S. patents. UNI-SOLAR® brand products are unique because of their flexibility, light weight, ease of installation, durability, and real-world energy production. The company also designs, manufactures and installs rooftop photovoltaic systems, which enable customers to transform unused rooftop space into a value-generating asset. With the Open Solar™ initiative the company is seeking to build a community of solar innovators who will commercialize new products using the underlying, patented UNI-SOLAR technology. For more information on United Solar visit uni-solar.com or follow UNI-SOLAR on Facebook.com/unisolar and Twitter.com/uni_solar.

About SolarFocus Technology Co., Ltd.

Since 2005, SolarFocus has been at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution by providing competitively priced, energy saving and environmental-friendly solar powered products to both industry and consumers. As an industry leader in solar research and innovative product development, SolarFocus holds several solar technology patents with their products routinely used in such extreme environments as the Himalayas and the North Pole. For further information on SolarFocus products, please visit www.solarmio.com. 


CONTACT: United Solar Contact:

         Kim Paulson

         Corporate Marketing Manager

         pr@uni-solar.com

         +1 (248) 299-6081

         

         SolarFocus Contact:

         Amy Chueh

         Sales Manager

         pr@solarmio.com

         +866-6615-8625