Samsung Electronics said its SPH-N270 model cellular phone, showcased in the sequel to the Hollywood blockbuster, was sold at a charity auction held by Yahoo! Japan to mark the 50th anniversary of Samsung’s entering the Japanese market.

The company said that among the 100,000 bidders, a man from Saitama Prefecture bought the handset for 35,5000 yen, and that the proceeds from the auction were donated to charity. Before the auction in Japan, the model was sold for US$2,325 in an auction held by e-Bay in the United States.

The popularity of the SPH-N270 model is due to its rarity. After being noticed for its state-of-the art design in “The Matrix Reloaded,'' Samsung Electronics sold only 5,000 limited-edition SPH-N270 phones for US$500 each in the United States.