Think the CTIA is only good for
swank trade shows? Think again! It's actually a trade group created to fight for your interests -- or at least those interests of your duly elected wireless providers -- and apparently top among those lists of interests is plug standardization. Yes, we're not the only ones sick of still having a sprawling mess of a gadget charging station, so CTIA is saying that micro-USB will be the power standard for all handsets and mobile devices. Likewise, the 3.5mm audio plug will be the standard for audio output on those same gadgets. It's shocking, we know, if only because we thought the entire gadget universe was already on board, with
everyone and their mommas signing up for micro-USB and even HTC finally
making room for a 3.5mm hole in the bottom of their handsets. These standards are set to go into effect in January of 2012, meaning we should get a good 11 months or so of dongle-free gadget harmony before the apocalypse.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jaster Mereel @ Oct 12th 2009 8:23AM
It's great that mobile devices (cell phones) are moving to the standard, but what about Bluetooth headset manufacturers? There are still so many damn proprietary connectors with those things that it is very annoying. I bought my last BT headset based solely on the fact that it had a mini-USB connector just like my phone.
Brenden Donaher @ Oct 12th 2009 10:38AM
This is great in so many ways. FInally. Standards are a good thing. This doesn't mean companies like apple have to get rid of there proprietary doc adapter and what not, just add a micro-usb port on the jesus phone somewhere else. No more bundles of cords for me,
Brenden Donaher @ Oct 12th 2009 10:40AM
@ Jester. So true. Same with alot of devices at large. Take the PSP GO, and the iPod Touch, According to Sony they are competing products, but different connectors.
slim011 @ Oct 12th 2009 2:49PM
a universal standard for a charging/data port is fantastic, but it shouldn't be micro usb, i personally see alot of this port failing just because people insist on talking on their phone while it charging, knock it off the desk while connected etc etc.....