EC approves universal smartphone charger standards

Andre Yoskowitz
30 Dec 2010 22:11

The European Commission has approved standards for a new universal USB smartphone charger that will hopefully put an end to drawers full of proprietary chargers for year's worth of old phones.
Based on the MicroUSB, the new standard has already been accepted by fourteen smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Nokia and Samsung.
All new smartphones from those companies will include a port using the new standard starting next year.
Says Antonio Tajani, European Commission VP for industry and entrepreneurship (via IW):

I am very happy that the European Standardisation Bodies have met our request to develop within a short space of time the technical standards necessary for a common mobile phone charger based on the work done by industry.
Now it is time for industry to show its commitment to sell mobile phones for the new charger. The common charger will make life easier for consumers, reduce waste, and benefit businesses. It is a true win-win situation.

The EC notes that the move will be better, not only for consumers, but for the environment, as well. Old chargers are usually thrown out after a new phone is purchased, even if they are in brand new condition, simply because they are useless.
Sony Ericsson, Motorola Mobility, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Emblaze Mobile, Huwei Technologies, LGE, NEC, TCT Mobile (Alcatel), Texas Instruments, and Atmel are the remaining companies that have agreed to the standards. Together, the 14 companies account for 90 percent of the European smartphone market.