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Standard phone chargers from 2010

The major manufacturers in the mobile telephony sector have reached a voluntary agreement to adopt a universal phone charger with effect from 2010 to save the consumer money and reduce waste.

 


In partnership with the European Commission, companies including Nokia, Samsung, Apple, Motorola and Sony Ericsson have signed up to a project, which will harmonise charging accessories sold in EU member states in a bid to save money and protect the environment.
 

The universal charger will utilise micro-USB connection technology and all new devices sold will have to be compatible with this standard although the initiative only applies to "data-enabled" mobile phones. Whilst the percentage of smart phones versus standard mobile phones is still relatively low, it is rising quickly and by 2010 it is expected that most mobile phones will be data-enabled.

"I am very pleased that industry has found an agreement, which will make life much simpler for consumers. They will be able to charge mobile phones anywhere from the new common charger."

Günter Verheugen
Commissioner, EU Industry


EU Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen said: "I am very pleased that industry has found an agreement, which will make life much simpler for consumers. They will be able to charge mobile phones anywhere from the new common charger. This also means considerably less electronic waste, because people will no longer have to throw away chargers when buying new phones."

In a communiqué, Brussels highlighted the wide range of chargers on the market today, many of which are only compatible with one kind of device. It claimed that almost every household has a collection of chargers, which can no longer be used as phones are upgraded and old models discarded on a short life cycle.

Last February, the GSM Association, which includes most of the major players in mobile telephony, estimated that the creation of a standard charger compatible with all brands could contribute to the halving of energy consumption. According to the GSMA, between 50 and 80 per cent of the 1.2 billion mobile telephones sold worldwide each year were replacement purchases generating up to 80,000 tonnes of waste in redundant accessories.
 

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