Orange launches dance-powered mobile phone charger

Orange's latest PR wheeze to prove it is down with the kids is the launch of a 'dance powered' mobile phone charger.

The announcement, timed to coincide with Orange's sponsorship of this week's Glastonbury festival, claims that the Orange Dance Charge follows "months of research into alternate, sustainable energy sources to power mobile phones during summer music festivals". Yeah right.

Apparently the Dance Charge - which looks like an oversized elasticated iPod arm holder - uses a system of weights and magnets to harness the kinetic energy your body generates when you dance. (Or if you're the typical British bloke, when you reluctantly shuffle your weight from your right foot to your left and back again). The electrical energy is stored in a battery which can then be used to charge your mobile later.

Don't rush out to buy one in the shops, though, as the Orange Dance Charge is just a prototype, albeit a fully functioning one. But you will no doubt get the chance to try one out at Glastonbury, that is if you can extract your feet from the gloopy mud long enough to cut a kinetic rug.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realise that the kind of dancing which generates the most charge will be the splenetic, shape-throwing visual cacaphony that normally follows too many lagers - or alternatively the pep pills quaintly known as 'disco biscuits'.

But if you don't feel like making a windmilling tit of yourself, Orange is helpfully supplying an Orange Dance Charging Man who will use the device to charge your phone. The only payment he requires in return is a dance.

Incidentally, the Know Your Mobile team will actually be in Glasto this weekend so if we do see the Orange Dance Charging Man we may offer a hands-on road test of him and his device. Watch this space.