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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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5

EU to Get Universal Phone Chargers by 2010

Plan expected to reduce electronic waste, make life simpler for consumers

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(Newser) – Cell phone makers have agreed to introduce a one-size-fits-all charger in the European Union within the next six months, CNN reports. The deal is expected to reduce the tens of thousands of tons of chargers thrown away every year, and should hasten the introduction of a universal charger for the rest of the world.

European Commission Vice President Guenter Verheugen explains a mobile phone agreement during a press conference at the EU Commission building in Brussels yesterday.
European Commission Vice President Guenter Verheugen explains a mobile phone agreement during a press conference at the EU Commission building in Brussels yesterday.   (AP Photo/Jim Buell)
People will no longer have to throw away chargers when buying new cell phones once a single stndard charger is introduced in the EU within the next six months.
People will no longer have to throw away chargers when buying new cell phones once a single stndard charger is introduced in the EU within the next six months.   (©fsse8info)
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I am very pleased that industry has found an agreement which will make life much simpler for consumers.
- European Commission Vice President Gunter Verheugen

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5 comments
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2-bits
Jun 30, 09 1:44 AM CDT
Oh god I want this. :( I have all these old phone chargers lying around and thy are useless. Reply
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+5
chiozzo
Jun 30, 09 12:01 PM CDT
It makes me wonder what it will be though. Mini-USB? That seems like the logical choice. Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
ack
Jun 30, 09 12:28 PM CDT
Yep: "Now the cell phone industry has agreed to standardize its chargers, making all handsets compatible with a micro-USB plug already standard on handsets such BlackBerrys."
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+1
beatmastermcfly
Jun 30, 09 1:51 PM CDT
i wonder how happy Apple is about all of this. Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
Newser001
Jul 1, 09 11:47 AM CDT
I can't begin to tell you how many chargers I have about the house...! With regard to Apple, they'll have to comply or face backlash; I'm a Mac and will expect nothing less. The charger block is one thing, the connector to iPhone and iPods, another - that may present itself as a quandary (USB v mini-USB). The move is green and I applaud in an attempt to rein in an era of an excessive disposable mentality as well as churn, requiring consumers to purchase constantly evolving, changing, exclusive proprietary devices, adaptors, connectors. With that in mind, Apple initiated the iPod connect with Firewire and replaced a few generations down the road from inception with USB and remains that way to this day. I admire the EU, always thinking, always moving forward.
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