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microUSB cellphone charger becomes EU standard

Posted by on 30/12/2010

The European Commission has put into effect a June 2009 agreement stating that major cellphone manufacturers should standardize their charging/data connection ports to the popular microUSB format. CEN-CENELEC and ETSI provided the standards by which these 14 companies will abide by to make cell phone recharging and data transfer easy.

The companies that signed on include Apple, Emblaze Mobile, Huawei Technologies, LGE, Motorola Mobility, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion (RIM), Samsung, Sony Ericsson, TCT Mobile (ALCATEL), Texas Instruments and Atmel. This means a single microUSB charger or data connector can be used to connect any of the following phones to either a wall socket or PC. One of the biggest benefits is in the reduction of waste and materials. Rather than having 10,000 different chargers around the house, users just need one charger or data cable.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: “I am very happy that the European Standardisation Bodies have met our request to develop within a short space of time the technical standards necessary for a common mobile phone charger based on the work done by industry. Now it is time for industry to show its commitment to sell mobile phones for the new charger. The common charger will make life easier for consumers, reduce waste and benefit businesses. It is a true win-win situation.”

The new standardized chargers and cables will be made available with new phones as of 2011.

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  • Guest

    This is certainly old news. EU did not initiate this, the micro USAB proposal is a Chinese initiative to reduce electronic waste- As of June 14, 2007, all new mobile phones applying for a license in China are required to use the USB port as a power port.

  • Alan Bourke

    About time. I remember Vodafone Ireland charging EUR 60 for a replacement charger about 5 or 6 years ago. Hopefully it’ll stop the price gouging.

  • https://www.blogtechnical.com Bradley Wint

    Agreed upon in June 2009 by cell phone members in the EU, coming to pass as of just recent. It may be old but you know how it legal processes take place. The actions may already be in action, but the legality and legislation is now active etc etc.

    Also we are not talking about the Chinese are we? We are talking about the European nations on their own, but in the whole scheme of things…you’d be right… this is not exactly the newest initiative. Most of them have been doing microUSB style ports for a while. My last Motorola which I bought in 2004 came with it… then a couple Blackberries I had… so yea.

  • Honkie

    Apple will just include a MicroUSB adapter into their EU packs and that’s it.

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