Standardized mobile charging coming soon

If you have switched mobile phone brands anytime recently, you will surely have encountered the annoyance of needing to buy a new proprietary charger, either for your wall, your car, or for your PC.

That problem will be coming to an end in Europe as of 2010, as 10 of the largest mobile phone companies have submitted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the European Commission that means a new universal charger will be available, revolving around the Micro-USB connector.

The ten companies are: Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Texas Instruments.

"I am very pleased that industry has found an agreement, which will make life much simpler for consumers," adds the EC's Gunter Verheugen, via a FAQ. "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."

The FAQ does note that the MoU is only relevant to the EU however they hope the move will spread elsewhere.

"The MoU covers the territory of the EU. However, as the market for mobile phones is essentially global, the MoU should be seen as a good model for other geographical markets. The Commission is committed to sharing this approach with its trading partners, in order to extend its benefits world-wide," adds the FAQ.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Jun 2009 13:40

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11 comments

Morreale

Yea, my LG Voyager is proprietary and so was my old Nokia 6275i and my other Nokia but at least they came with the charges and USB cables for the computer :)

I don't have a car, so no need for that charger...

29.6.2009 13:52 #1

varnull

I read about this close on a year ago.. it's a new directive about interoperability and choice, under the European competition and anti-trust directives. It's come from the micro-usb standards committee afaik. Apple and M$ better be ready for some fallout when they are found ignoring the directives in a Europe which is slowly starting to grow teeth.. We have started electing fascists to the European Parliament these days.. a little xenophobia never hurt anybody.

29.6.2009 15:04 #2

ThePastor

Standardizing chargers is a HUGE start, but they need also to standardize PC connectivity.
If they are going to use the Micro USB port to charge they should also use that for data and put an end to all of these proprietary connections like on my Samsung.

29.6.2009 19:51 #3

SProdigy

Originally posted by ThePastor: Standardizing chargers is a HUGE start, but they need also to standardize PC connectivity.
If they are going to use the Micro USB port to charge they should also use that for data and put an end to all of these proprietary connections like on my Samsung.Same with my Samsung. Makes you wonder, since the Moto RAZR had mini-USB 5 years ago!

29.6.2009 22:46 #4

jutsu

hmm, isn't charger for different battery types used in cellphones have diferent charging method?

like sonyericsson using Li-Poly, Nokia using Li-Ion........

29.6.2009 22:52 #5

gnorvell

I believe charging control is in the phone not the charger. USB supplies a standard 5 volts regardless of battery type.

30.6.2009 10:02 #6

vyze

Originally posted by jutsu: hmm, isn't charger for different battery types used in cellphones have diferent charging method?

like sonyericsson using Li-Poly, Nokia using Li-Ion........Chargers may vary in the amount of volts/amps that they output but built into the phone itself would be a power management device that would indicate when to turn charging on and off. The charger is a 'dumb device' as it just does one thing, when it is told to, and nothing else.

My Nokia has a USB connection but that won't charge it, same as the PSP... which would be nice.

USB is about to get a major make over with USB 3.0 later on this year. Funnily enough the first OS to support it isn't Windows or OSX but Linux! :D

30.6.2009 10:02 #7

ThePastor

USB 3.0 is going to be awesome. Double speed... Bi-directionial (parallel)Larger, but backwards compatable plug...
USB - the one thing on the PC's that actually seems to work (most of the time)
I'm not sure of the USB 3.0 Micro USB upgrades though. It's a good question. I bet Wikipedia has something on it.

30.6.2009 15:05 #8

borhan9

This is a long time coming. I think usb is a good format however what are they going to do about the power point connection.
unless the connection from the phone would be universal and the power point connection will be the connector of that country.

I will be wanting one of these.

2.7.2009 04:06 #9

pmshah

At times actions by most manufacturers surprise me.

The products sold in countries other than North America usually include chargers / adapters which can handle voltages ranging from 110 to 240 50/60 Hz.

For some strange reason the very same models sold in North America are NOT capable/designed to function beyond 120 volts. Perhaps a couple of cents they might be saving in downgrading these chargers /adapters is VERY important to them. I picked the price difference at a couple of cents by simply checking on the local prices. A 5 V DC 1000 VA SMPS sells for about US$ 1/= equivalent.

6.7.2009 22:16 #10

vyze

Originally posted by pmshah: ...
The products sold in countries other than North America usually include chargers / adapters which can handle voltages ranging from 110 to 240 50/60 Hz...When I lived in England it was "easy" to spend a day and drive through 4 or 5 countries.

Living in America and moving from one house to another house entailed a 5 day cross country drive where I didn't need a power adapter for my laptop/cell phone as I didn't leave the country.

In Europe there is more of a demand/market for people needing various adapters so it is included. If Europe was using American/Microsoft business tactics then those chargers would be an additional charge (re: xbox wireless vs wii/ps3 builtin wifi)

8.7.2009 11:15 #11

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