Earlier today, the GSMA announced that it has successfully brokered a deal with leading handset manufacturers and network operators to standardize mobile chargers by 2012 (for most, but not all cellular phones).
The primary goal of this new agreement is to cut down on the environmental impact created by trashing old chargers. According to the AP:
The GSMA calculates a reduction in greenhouse gases from manufacturing and transporting replacement chargers of 13.6 to 21.8 million tons a year. Cast-off chargers currently generate more than 51,000 tons of waste a year, it says.
Not only will the proposed Micro-USB chargers help reduce waste, but, according to the agreement they’ll also consume (up to 50 percent) less power and provide much greater convenience (and subsequently, less headaches) for consumers. Imagine being able to leave your charger behind, knowing that most anywhere you travel you can find a compatible charger, be it a friend’s place or a random hotel on the other side of the world.
So far, 17 companies have agreed to the pact including 3 Group, AT&T, KTF, LG, mobilkom austria, Motorola, Nokia, Orange, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telenor, Telstra, T-Mobile and Vodafone.
So the companies have an agreement that in 3 years time, they will start making phones with the new Micro-USB charger, if they don’t already. So things won’t even begin to become standardised for the next three years, and even then, it will be a slow process to eliminate the existing phones and quirky chargers.
I fear by the time things actual become ‘universal’, Micro-USB won’t be good enough and everything will have to change again.
My brother works for a large UK mobile phone company, says in the last few days everyone is trying to buy all the website names related to these universal chargers. says that will be a huge industry in itself.. spares extra chargers etc.
Milo