While the free-market works pretty well when, uh, left alone to be
free, sometimes it needs a push from a visible hand. Case in point, phone chargers, at the moment some 30 different types of chargers are used on handsets throughout Europe. Today, the European Commission received industry backing of its
phone charger standard that relies on a micro-USB socket. The standard is now backed by all the majors (representing 90% of the European mobile market) including Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Apple, LG, NEC, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung and Texas Instruments with compatible devices starting to appear in Europe next year. Or course, the micro-USB charger standard already has the blessings of
CTIA, OMTP, and GSM Association which implies a broader adoption beyond Europe, someday. One charger for any mobile phone... where's the catch?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sockatume @ Jun 29th 2009 8:46AM
The catch is, they'll keep selling phones with chargers in the box by default anyway. Unless they actually start selling chargerless phones, outside of greenwashed "eco editions", there's no environmental benefit.
mpete @ Jun 30th 2009 12:40PM
The Benifit is you will is not having to throw your old chargers away. When I get a new phone I usaully buy 3 plus chargers(a couple for travel and car). With this being the standard I will have these chargers, no need to buy more. And once this standard has been in place for a while, a phone could be sold without a charger, and it would not be a big deal.
Lewis Balentine @ Jun 29th 2009 9:27AM
The real question is if they can agree on what constitutes a standard for "microUSB". Samsung has been using their own oddball version "microUSB" for several call phone generations .... and one generation is NOT compatible with another.
JT @ Jun 29th 2009 10:34AM
I am convinced they'll stop bundling chargers with phones and only provide USB adapters. USB plugs are getting common in cars too...
Brandon @ Jun 29th 2009 11:59AM
Apple agreed? I'm impressed.
Isaac @ Jun 29th 2009 12:29PM
Part of the reason for the sheer number of unique chargers is that manufacturers know there's additional revenue for themselves and for retailers by selling 3 extra chargers that cost them $1.97 to make at $19.99 or $29.00 apiece. Really drives the margins for the cell phones, which are constantly under price pressure. Folks will do all kinds of things to get a subsidized phone for free or $50, but then they'll pay another $60 for accessories without a second thought.
dt @ Jun 29th 2009 12:49PM
Of course america will be the last to adopt such common sense approach. Ive been saying that for ten years now. "There needs to be one universal charger for almost all small handheld devices, not just cell phones." Ok maybe two or three is acceptible too, but Ive had five cell phones in the last few years and each one requires a different charger. So I have to go get 3 new chargers everytime, and im sick of it. I need one for my car, for the living room and for my bedroom, and one for work. And you know where the old ones go, the trash! Because they sit around on my table for a year or two, and I ask everone that comes and goes from my house to take it if it works. This is just absurdity beyond absurd...
FIX IT!!!!!!!!
tnkgrl @ Jun 29th 2009 5:43PM
Notes:
- This has been floating around for a while
- No mention of HTC, who really likes its Ext-USB (mini USB + audio) connector
- Mention of Apple, who really likes its iPod connector
ieatzpie @ Jun 29th 2009 11:00PM
The HTC Hero has a micro-USB charger, so I'm sure we'll see more HTC phones with micro soon enough.
Now about Laptop chargers...
ThePengwin @ Jun 29th 2009 11:54PM
in My opinion HTC's ExtUSB is the best solution so far. Any USB mini cable will work for charging and PC connectivity, and then addon devices use the extra connectors that USB mini dosent so it has expandibility, and is already widley widely used today.
David @ Jun 30th 2009 3:39AM
No catch, just common sense.
Should have been done long ago.
Buying a phone for someone in the family, I am often looking for same brand
as already existing at home, to keep them all on same charger.
Easier to handle charging at home.
Now I can chose the phone which is better as a phone, not considering
chargers.