Have you ever been annoyed over not being able to borrow a friend’s or a colleague’s mobile phone charger because it wasn’t compatible with your phone?
This era is coming to an end, according to the European Commission. A common charger compatible with mobile phones of all brands, promoted by the Commission, is now a reality, thanks to the cooperation between 14 companies.
New technical standards for data-enabled mobile phones were published on December 29, 2010. Commission vice president Antonio Tajani last week received a sample of a compatible common charger from Bridget Cosgrave, director-general of DIGITALEUROPE, the largest Association of European digital technology industry.
“I welcome the roll out of new chargers for mobile phones based on the new EU standard. This is genuine good news for the European consumer. Now we await the arrival of the new charger and compatible mobile phones on the shelves. I urge industry to speed up their introduction in the market to enable citizens throughout the EU to enjoy the advantages of a common charger as soon as possible,” said Mr Tajani, who is responsible for industry and entrepreneurship.
The delivery marks the start of an implementation process triggered by the European Commission. The support of the Commission has enabled manufacturers to deliver this benefit to European consumers in a relatively short period of time. The EU has achieved the common charging solution using a common-sense approach that benefits everyone – without the need for any new regulation. The European Commission will work with industry so that European consumers can profit from the initiative as soon as possible.
The publication of the standards in December 2010 means that mobile phone manufacturers can now proceed with required design and testing changes for chargers ensuring compatible phones are safe and interoperable. Compatible data-enabled mobile telephones of different brands can now operate with the same common charger – a big step forward for mobile phone users. The fourteen manufacturers have agreed to introduce the new common mobile phone chargers onto the European market in the course of 2011.
Incompatibility of mobile phone chargers causes not only inconveniences for users, but is also an important environmental issue in the European Union. Mobile phone users who wish to replace their mobile phones are often required to purchase a new charger, regardless of the condition of the existing one.
The companies involved in the initiative include Apple, Emblaze Mobile, Huawei Technologies, LGE, Motorola Mobility, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion (RIM), Samsung, Sony Ericsson, TCT Mobile (ALCATEL mobile phones), Texas Instruments and Atmel.
The agreement covers data-enabled mobile phones, i.e. those that can be plugged into a computer to exchange for example, pictures, files and music. Data-enabled mobile phones are already predominant on the market. So-called smartphones are a segment of data-enabled mobile phones.
www.onechargerforall.eu