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Standard Cellphone Chargers For Europeans
k33l0r writes "The European Commission is confident that all major cellphone companies have reached an agreement on a standard cellphone charger for consumers within the EU. 'People will not have to throw away their charger whenever they buy a new phone,' said EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen.
Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Apple, LG, NEC, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung and Texas Instruments have all signed the agreement."
Will it be Mini-USB or some proprietary connector?
Well this may carry over as a convenience to the US but I doubt it.(why have two plants making two different types of chargers when you can have one plant making one charger type). That why is Verizon & AT&T. They love locking people in, and since there are so many service carriers they do so with products (iPhone for one).
Hopefully this will spread - but I doubt it.
I do not support "The Man". I also do not support your irrational stupidity
My last two phones have been Nokias, and both of them have had the same charger, with an adaptor for using older Nokia chargers. My two phones before that were Sony-Ericsson and they also had compatible chargers. Do people really throw away their old chargers? If you're moving from one manufacturer to another, you can generally find someone switching in the opposite direction and swap with them. Or sell your old phone including the charger.
While I like the idea of compatible chargers, I suspect that this means that all of the existing chargers will suddenly become obsolete with the next generation of phones...
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
OMG FIRST
The story is incorrectly tagged miniusb. It's actually micro USB (which is an inferior connector, in my opinion) which is slightly smaller and lacks the "ears" of mini USB, which is what the Blackberry uses.
-Peter
Otherwise you would need 2 adapters to plug into the wall and the computer at the same time. It only makes sense to use 1 connector to handle both -- and that is probably so obvious that it won't be done.
from 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
to 45 2F 6E 40 3C DF 10 71 4E 41 DF AA 25 7D 31 3F
http://douglasadams.com/dna/980707-03-a.html
That would be nice to have a standard for Li-ion batteries too, from mobile phones to shavers and laptops. This way, it would be easier to recycle and replace batteries, lower costs and remove vendor-specific locks. I like alkaline batteries: around 4-5 different formats to power most of our stuff. With Li-ion, we have gained in power and time, but lost in flexibility. Is that so difficult to implement ?
You mean the manufacturers will be able to make the charger an accessory.
At additional cost^H^H^H^Hprofit.
Saving the planet, one quarter's financial results at a time. I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy again, especially around my wallet.
deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
Those Euros think they are so smart making their chargers standard. Nonsense I'd say! Bell Tech Support told me once that they HAVE to make special chargers that I have to buy or replace for each phone. These of course were made with HIGH quality materials and so cost a heck of a lot more. So how are they going to charge their phones with a "standard" charger? Bell said they're the right ones on the TV on their pretty advertisement.
It's Micro USB
My girlfriend and me have both a Sony-Ericson phone, bought 3 years apart. Guess what ? Both chargers and connectors are proprietary, fragile, weird and different! Of course if you lose it you'll have to spend an arm to get a replacement.
However this will only work if vendors give the option NOT to get a new charger with a new phone. Otherwise, this will not be really useful.
I wish I could power up with a cell phone charger. Europeans are so lucky.
Man, I knew that headline was too good to be true.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
A good exemple that sometimes the market is unable to find the most optimal solution and someone has to regulate.
http://www.transparency.org
Any word on whether or not they'll be adding a cryptographic handshake that will lock the chargers down harder than connector swapping ever did?
They could even adopt a wireless commerce model: "The charger you have connected is not an official 'Motorola by Verizon' brand charger. Press 'OK' to activate the charger for a payment of $29.95 or purchase an official charger." With cellphone location services, you could even do location based selective lockouts! "I'm sorry, your charger is authorized for home use only. Please subscribe to our 'Home and Business' charger plan or, for travellers, 'National Omnicharge Premium' for just $19.95 a month."
Ah, evil.
I'm no environ-nut. I don't bend over backwards to save the earth. But I do make a change when something 'makes sense.'
A prius? Value isn't there. High up-front costs, low performance. I think not.
E-85? Lower energy output than gasoline. Starving people that depend on Corn. Did you know that last year the Mexicans had a shortage of corn products. Do you know they use a LOT more corn than we (US-IANS) do .Glad we're past that.
On the other hand:
CFL - A time and a place. I leave our front porch lights on at night, and a few others for security. I put in CFLs to save a little money. They run all night and I don't need them instantly, so the warm up time doesn't bother me. I tried them in a closet... No way. I'm done in the closet before they warm up. They make all of my clothes look blue so I can't figure out which pants are which. And I'll be damned if I ever put them in the kids room. HIGH chance of broken bulb. Mercury/Carpet/Kids don't mix.
LED bulbs... I can't wait (till they're under $5.) Instant-on, LOW wattage, user-selectable colors. The US may as well skip mandating CFL because LED is where we're going.
Other Hybrids... Before long, NASCAR is going to see that there's some way to make this hybrid stuff make cars go faster and farther without a pit-stop... There are four industries here that drive new tech for the consumer. Military, NASA, Nascar and pr0n.
And all my devices on the same plug? GREAT. Less waste will hopefully mean less cost for me. Sure the manufacturers are going to eat most of that money as profit. But, if it means that I don't have to worry about buying a $30 car charger from ATT, I can just use a generic one for $5. Plus I can have a charger in the car, a charger at home and one at the office. I'll never have to worry about being without my iPhone cable again. At a neighbor's house? Good, their's is the same.
Do not meddle in the affairs of sysadmins, for they are subtle, and quick to anger.
It will be a standard equipment of electric car, right?
press release and a memo.
Most interesting parts:
Incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones is a major inconvenience for users and also leads to unnecessary waste. Therefore, the Commission has requested industry to come forward with a voluntary commitment to solve this problem so as to avoid legislation.
and
Industry commits to provide chargers compatibility on the basis of the Micro-USB connector. Once the commitment becomes effective, it will be possible to charge data-enabled mobile phones from any charger compatible with the common specifications.
NB: The message above might reflect my opinion right now, but not necessarily tomorrow or next year.
..is how even if it's a standard plug (mini or micro USB) they tweek the phone so it won't accept a standard USB cable rather you get the "Unauthorized Charger" message. Good for the EU... I wish the US consumer protection agencies would step up on issues like this that would make a difference.
Is there anything like this in these United States of America? I will not be surprised if there is none.
Why? Because such a thing would be tantamount to "limiting our freedoms." We do the same thing in the Linux space.
Limiting the free market 'n shit ...
Apparently you've never seen a place called Ebay. You can get a wall and car charger together for under $10 including shipping.
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
My Motorola phone has a standard mini-usb connector but you STILL can't use it with standard charger. Why? "Un authorized charger".
From what I've pieced together it has a chip in it to fake that it is connected to a computer. This is a double edged sword of uselessness
1) I can't use my Garmin charger with my phone because it's "un authorized" and won't charge.
2) I can't use my Motorola charger with my Garmin because Garmin puts itself into PC mode (instead of navigation mode).
So now I have to carry 2 - 12V -> USB devices with me because of Motorola.
Trust me, keep an eye out for the buzz words "authentic" "valid" "safe" "genuine".
Does this mean that (future) iPhones in Europe will have to switch from Apple's beloved dock connector? That is quite significant for them. Also might they standardize all their connectors and thereby bring this exciting new change to the U.S.?
call me FOSS im the boss with the sauce and the source
I switched from my Razr to my G1 and was able to keep all my chargers. All my data cables worked, too. Even though the HTC G1 uses the proprietary Ext USB connector, it is backwards compatible with mini-USB connectors. 1 charger and data cable at work, 2 chargers and a data cable at home, and 1 data cable to carry in my bag. I wish more vendors were like Motorola and HTC.
Unfortunately, my new stereo bluetooh Lubix headset has a microUSB charger. Damn.
Apple indicates while it won't drop its connector, it will enable adaptors to be made:
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/apple-won-t-drop-dock-connector-for-micro-usb-612103
Considering that it already connects to USB sockets, then all that is needed is a USB - micro-USB adaptor.
The only question is whether USB power plugs will be made 'smarter', since there are still some that won't charge certain telephones for what ever reason.
Jumpstart the tartan drive.
I work at a small company ( 200 workers) and there is always a box with bunch of working mobile phones with dead chargers. Or working chargers from long dead mobile phones - all being kept for "pairing" - so until a match pops up, it's a box full of junk. If this was mandatory 10 years ago, we would have definitely saved some money. And have -1 box of junk. Oh and standard batteries would also rock. Of course, at least 3-4 standard types would be necessary due to different phone forms, but still much better than this proprietary mess. And that's just the financial/practical side. Don't get me started on the ecological side :)
MiniUSB is rated for 1000 connect/disconnect cycles
MicroUSB is rated for 10,000 connect/disconnect cycles, and is also thinner by about 1.5mm (critical on modern thin devices).
Given the power consumption on some smartphones, having the more durable connector is IMO, essential.
Test your net with Netalyzr
I like that my PS3 controller uses mini USB for charging. I can even charge it right from my MacBook! There are a lot of things that can be recharged, and as things get more wireless, it's going to become more important.
Sorry, can't believe that. The only standard they ever follow are their own.
They're so only going to use the same plug but put the charging ability in software/hardware to force you to buy their accessories. Like they both already do (but with their own connectors).
Once they do this, I hope someone makes an efficient multi-charger.
I collect wall warts. Some are 15 years old, and I can confirm that they got smaller over time. But what strikes me most is the Apple's transformers are often half the size (or less) of other transformers at the same power. It seems silly to me to have dozens of these things clustered onto one power strip, all with varying size, efficiency, and quality. It would be better to have one highly efficient transformer with multiple plugs, that could charge multiple devices.
Perhaps this decision is the first step toward achieving this.
The manufacturers of mobile telephones need to take environmental responsibility. A standard connector for AC charging is a step in the right direction. This should make it easier to develop a standard mobile telephone charger for bicycles.
Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.
Induction chargers are the solution, you don't need any sockets.
Plus you can just place multiple items on it.
C'mon market fetishist mod me down!
This is part of the USB spec. Originally USB hosts were only required to provide a certain amount of current to devices. Later they decided to increase this, but to provide backwards compatibility the device has to ask if the host is capable of sourcing that much current before it starts drawing it.
I can remember an article posted on /. a year ago or something like that, saying that "the EU is considering to force a standard for cellphone chargers" and if memory serves me right, most of the posts there were ridiculing that idea, because
+ companies know best what is good for their customers (or is it their own pockets?)
+ free market!!!
+ regulation is bad
+ oh, those European socialists
+ whatever reason
And now most comments are positive or at least neutral. What happened?
Well, whatever changed your minds, welcome to sanity.
But if it's in Europe, then it should be "Mobile phone".
The chargers will be usable only for data-enabled phones, which have more capability than just standard calls and SMS texts. Data-enabled phones are expected to account for almost half of all new mobile handset purchases in 2010.
So while definitely a move in the right direction it looks like it's only going to effect around half of the mobile phones sold in Europe initially.
I would expect this proportion to increase as smart phones move down into the lower cost markets though.
It's also not as big a jump for the manufactures this way as most of the smart phones already use some type of usb connection (mini or micro) so it shouldn't require a complete change of designs and tooling.
Independence? That's middle-class blasphemy. We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth. G.B Shaw
Forcing companies to standardize?!? Will no one think of the innovation? Who's protecting the innocent innovation from being preyed upon?
"Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs." -- Switchfoot, Ode to Chin
How does this ensure compatibility if the manufacturers don't agree to follow the USB spec? Having a micro-usb plug doesn't mean anything if the device doesn't follow the spec.
For instance, the spec says the USB port must provide 500 mA to the device. But my Palm Pre draws 1000 mA over the micro-USB port. If memory serves, blackberries draw 850 mA.
So what good is standardizing only on the plug, when what's going over the wire is nonstandard?
They don't grade fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper, you fucked up. --Chris Rock
The trouble with charging through a USB connector is that it's also a USB port. Most phones aren't well-protected against attacks via the USB port. With a common charger interface, you're going to find charger outlets everywhere. Some of them will be hostile.
So now you need a cable that only passes power. But that may not be enough. Motorola RAZR phones, for example, won't charge on PCs unless the Motorola driver is present to do the handshake. By default,a USB port will deliver at least 100mA, but if asked, it may deliver up to 500mA. Laptops actively manage USB power; desktop systems often don't bother.
So you may need a data connection, which opens up a whole new range of attacks on phones. Which means you may sometimes need a "firewall", a device which does the USB handshake and requests 500mA, then delivers it over a cable with no data wires.
This has been possible for a while, but with standardization, we'll have outlet strips with USB ports all over the place, in cafes, on aircraft, in cars, etc.
The chargers will be usable only for data-enabled phones... Data-enabled phones are expected to account for almost half of all new mobile handset purchases in 2010.
New data-enabled phones will come with a standardized charger
What's up with this? Is there something about MicroUSB that requires a phone with a data plan?
The only thin I can think of is that this is a a way out for manufacturers, so that they can keep costs down on bargain phones by manufacturing them with cheaper chargers and connectors.
I remember a similar article posted on /., when the EU first announced, that it wanted to force a standard for cellphone chargers, a year ago or something like that. If memory serves me right most of the posts back then ridiculed this idea, giving reasons like
+ companies know best what is good for their customers (or is their very own pockets?)
+ free market!!!
+ regulation is bad
+ (fill in your own reasons)
And now most posts are positive or neutral? What the hell happened to the land of the free?
Well, whatever it was, welcome to sanity!
...If only we could get the douche-pail carriers to standardize their rate 'plans' so that we could compare apples to apples. It would feel a smidgen less painful when they jamb yet another ridiculously overpriced contract up our dangerously dilated and sorry asses.
I have been feeling for a long time that the issue is not the vendors or the carriers. The issue is with our elected representatives. When was the last time your political party said: "Hey! Bank charges are usurious. Phone plans are completely lop-sided in favour of the vendor. Consumers should be able to re-sell Windows licenses. Chrysler should make a transmission that still functions after only 100,000 fucking kms."
..and when was the last time OUR representatives actually did something about it??
Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those sanctimonious Subaru-driving, Jesus-boot wearing tree-huggers - much the opposite. I was brought up on a wild mix of Big tits, V8's, heavy metal, Pimm's #3 and polo matches. I believe strongly in hard work paying off. Wealth creation is a GOOD thing. It's how our society moves forward.
What I'm bitching about is that the deals need to be fair. A monopoly should be a license to make money, not print it. Don't pay your cell bill, the telco cuts you off - plain and simple. But, if your call drops, the fucking call should be free! Buy a machine with Vista on it and pay M$ as much as they figure they can charge you. But M$ should be accountable for the terrible software they wrote and give you a refund if you ask for it.
*** Don't be dull.***
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Will they standardize on the interface and how its used, though?
For example, my iPhone, as much as I love it, could be claimed to be "USB standard" for power. It comes with a wall brick with a USB-A female jack. The gotcha is the proprietary Apple dock connector cable with a USB-A male end on it. IMHO, this is a standards dodge, even if it is mildly helpful in terms of sourcing power without carrying the brick, too.
If USB is going to be a standard, the device itself needs a female USB jack (micro-B seems to be the new standard standard they're heading towards) usable on its own, WITHOUT the $25 proprietary vendor cable to interface with USB. Vendors can keep including their own proprietary interfaces, too, but it's not really a standard unless the device includes a standard connector.
We also need to avoid the bullshit where the "standard" interface has a cable with a bunch of embedded logic (whether analog or digital) that makes it *look* standard but doesn't actually work with a standard cable.
My guess is vendors will never give up the guilty lock-in pleasures of their nonstandard connectors or the revenue they get from selling $2 cables for $25.
So here I am, at work. My phone dies and I need a charger. we have all kinds of phones and not a single one has the same samsung connector... NOT EVEN THE ONE SAMSUNG PHONE I WAS ABLE TO FIND! Too bad I don't live in the EU... but atleast this might make them go standard in all regions.
Ah, evil.
We don't need to be evil, we're the telephone com... wait!
What was that line again?
Sad they are not in the agreement since they too are a big player in the market, especially when we talk about the business market.
And in my mind the answer for the standard charger would be HTC's ExtUSB. How come? It is nifty USB charger, and their phones get charged by regular USB as well.
Plus a whole lot more like head set, adapters and so forth
ExtUSB specification
I just offered my dad to solder a fancy golden SMA connector to his cell phone for this purpose. Finally something solid looking. Since you guys like WLAN routers with detacheable antennas so much they aren't even the most expensive anymore. Besides, they go from DC to 4GHz, so why shouldn't I.
I might even decide on an efficient 48 Volts low voltage device home standard. Unfortunately the industry hasn't come my way yet, but they will figure this out some time soon.
Je me souviens.
There are multi-voltage adapters available that adress all of the above problems, albeit they cost 50 cents more to produce, so the phone suppliers went for the cheap option.
This sig is just as redundant as the rest of this posting
I wish more vendors were like Motorola and HTC.
No, you don't. Motorola locks down their phones so they will only charge on Motorola (or motorola-clone) chargers. If you plug a Moto phone into a standard mini-USB charger, it'll give you an "unauthorized charger" message. Go ahead and try it with the charger that came with the G1 - that's what it'll tell you. Same deal if you try and plug it into a computer without the Motorola drivers (which they want to charge money for) installed. Thankfully, the G1 and other HTC phones don't give a damn what kind of charger you have them plugged into, and will even ignore the non-standard resistor on pin 4 in Motorola chargers. HTC does its own non-standard thing on pin 4, but in this case it's just to tell the phone it can pull a full amp from the charger for a faster charge.
Hard work pays off tomorrow, but procrastination pays off NOW!
Your experience is completely different than mine. All of my mini-usb chargers/data cables I used on my Razr work with my G1 and vice versa. Every last one of them. One wall charger and one data cable at work: used them on my Razr until I got my G1. Both work with my G1 - yes, it actually charges it. Two wall chargers and a data cable at home. One wall charger was an extra Motorola-labeled one I had, the other came with the G1. I have a mini-usb data cable I've had for about 5 years that works with my Razr and my G1.
Motorola does not lock their stuff down. Cell carriers do that.