Single charger coming for ALL new cellphones

The European Commission has welcomed a commitment made earlier this year by the handset industry to provide a common charger for mobile phones. The first generation of new inter-chargeable mobile phones should reach the EU market from 2010 onwards.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) submitted to the Commission today, the industry has committed to provide charger compatibility on the basis of the Micro-USB connector. New EU standards to ensure continued safe charger use, as well as avoidance or radio interference problems, will also be developed.

Currently, there is a plethora of chargers for mobile phones in the EU. Many of them can only charge a particular mobile phone. Almost every household has a collection of chargers that have become superfluous over time. Old chargers currently generate several thousands of tons of waste a year.

Ten companies have signed the MoU:

• Apple
• LG
• Motorola
• NEC
• Nokia
• Qualcomm
• Research in Motion (RIM)
• Samsung
• Sony Ericsson
• Texas Instruments

We can expect that this will also be happening in North America, as it does not make sense for these manufacturers to comply in the EU and not in Canada and the US. This will hopefully not only reduce the price of cellphones through economies of scale, it seems feasible that a third party will be making the chargers for every company. But also aid in the fact then when your cellphone is low on batteries, you will be able to charge it using anyones charger and not have to worry if it is compatible.