In 2010 new mobile phones being produced must be equipped, independently from their brand, with a battery charger having a universal plug. This was decided by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union), a UN telecommunication agency that established the type of technology to be used: the micro USB.
The charger will have a normal plug on one side for electricity and on the other a plug for a micro USB (the same type of the USB, but smaller) for inclusion into the mobile phone.
Urged by consumer associations, the universal charger's sponsor has been the European Commission already for some time. The web magazine "Notizie tra le linee" points out taht the absence of a standard cable has caused inconveniences to customers as well as increased waste and pollution.
Every year, according to the Gsm Association's estimates, the mobile phone industry produces 51,000 tons of battery chargers. This leads to energy consumption and pollution for producing them as well as the problem for their disposal when for example a brand or model is changed.
Consumer savings will be significant, particularly because the new charger will have a greater energy efficiency, nearly tripled compared to the previous ones. The costs for mobile phones will also be affected since in the future they will have to deduct the charger cost (one hopes) from the final cost.
Up to now, all the leading mobile phone producers have agreed: Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Lg, Apple, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry.
