Handset Vendors Plug Micro-USB Charge Ports

ketan324 points to a Register story touting an agreement among several phone makers to settle on Micro USB for their phones' charging ports, writing "It's about time for these cellphone manufacturers to wise up and design a universal phone charger. Although many manufacturers have already 'standardized' to a mini-USB interface, there are many more out there who use proprietary adapters. I wonder how Apple will feel about this? Will they finally realize that their oh-so-special adapter is nothing more than a fudged USB interface?" No legislation required.

Comments

Apple has nothing to be ashamed of here

[peacefinder]

While the iPhone uses Apple's own dock connector, that connector is only one jump away from USB for both charge and data, plus it includes extra features. (Audio and TV out.) The iPhone package ships with a USB-to-dock cable, and (in the US) a 110VAC-to-USB adapter. They've also kept the dock connector pretty stable, with the only major change being the switch from Firewire to USB - and many devices along the way could use either version.

I'd of course be delighted if everyone would standardize on one power+data connector for phones, but until that day comes I think Apple has no reason to be ashamed of what they've got now.

Re:And why the hell do I need a driver for this?

[commodore64_love]

>>>Often the standard USB current isn't enough to charge

(cough) bullshit (ahem). 100 mA times 5 hours == fully-charged battery in my Nokia phone. You don't need a lot of current to charge these tiny batteries.