Apple to Adopt Micro-USB Connectors for iPhone Charging in Europe

[MacRumors]

Reuters reports that ten top mobile phone manufacturers, including Apple, have agreed to adopt the Micro-USB connector standard for smartphone chargers in the European Union. The shift, planned to begin next year, will allow smartphones from the companies, which control 90% of the market, to use the same charging cables. Apple currently uses a proprietary dock connector compatible with both the iPhone and iPod touch.

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.

The Commission hopes that as people discard their old handsets, within three to four years all data-enabled phones in Europe will be using standardized chargers.

The plan also calls for new phones to be sold with Micro-USB chargers for a period of time before ultimately selling phones and chargers separately in order to allow customers who already own chargers to continue using their existing ones. While the agreement extends only to European phones, it is expected that the standard will make its way into phones around the world as companies attempt to keep their design and manufacturing costs streamlined.

Article Link: Apple to Adopt Micro-USB Connectors for iPhone Charging in Europe

[Depress]

Actually, i think they are going to make a converter to the 30pin dock connector. Because of the many more features the dock connector has over the usb connector.

With that i think they will support trough the converter the following options:
charging and Headset(Stereo + Voice)

[MentalFabric]

That would be awesome - but what would happen to all the accessories? The 'iPod' dock connecter has become an annoying standard of it's own...

[andrew0122]

No more 30 pin? I really like the look of the dock connector. Some how it looks classier. . . Maybe it's just me.

[Warbrain]

I somewhat doubt that they'll go to Micro-USB on the iPhone but just provide an adapter like others have said.

[walnuts]

Originally Posted by Depress

Actually, i think they are going to make a converter to the 30pin dock connector. Because of the many more features the dock connector has over the usb connector.

With that i think they will support trough the converter the following options:
charging and Headset(Stereo + Voice)

Does the dock connector have "more features" than usb? Will data transfer rates suffer?

This certainly raises questions as to what the app store developers should do regarding making devices that use the 30 pin connector. I would think that apple would be better off providing a separate mini usb port rather than replacing the 30 pin connector.

Also, isn't an adapter contrary to the point? Wasn't this initiative to cut down on proprietary cable waste? Making an adapter completely nullifies any benefit this might have.

[dubhe]

Please don't do away with the dock connector, I don't want to buy a new set of speakers, my Bose SoundDock is wonderful.

[Eso]

Originally Posted by Depress

Actually, i think they are going to make a converter to the 30pin dock connector.

No. There are already all sorts of converters for the mini USB connector. The point of the standard is that so consumers don't need to use any converters because the port is standard across all phones. I expect Apple will put both ports on the next iPhone - the 30 pin dock will still be their standard for syncing/devices, and the mini USB for charging only.

[bigmc6000]

Originally Posted by Warbrain

I somewhat doubt that they'll go to Micro-USB on the iPhone but just provide an adapter like others have said.

I certainly hope that's the case as virtually all the companies who make accessories would be seriously PO'd if they changed the dock. I understand the issue for all the other phones but for the iPhone? Seriously? Is there a store ANYWHERE that you can buy a cable to charge a phone and CAN'T buy something to charge your iPhone? It's the same freakin connection to charge as all the iPods so there are already 100's of millions pieces of hardware out there that use the exact same connector...

[xUKHCx]

Apple could still use the 30 pin dock connector and have a micro-usb somewhere on the side.


I like the move to micro-usb and when I first heard about this I wondered if apple would follow suit but they were quiet over the matter so just thought they weren't going to.

[daxomni]

I thought they went out of their way making every charging and interface system overly unique in order to increase revenue. Am I wrong? Won't this hurt their ancillary revenue streams by allowing consumers to save money? My guess is that this never makes it over to the US.

[FinalDragoon06]

Originally Posted by walnuts

Does the dock connector have "more features" than usb? Will data transfer rates suffer?

This certainly raises questions as to what the app store developers should do regarding making devices that use the 30 pin connector. I would think that apple would be better off providing a separate mini usb port rather than replacing the 30 pin connector.

The Dock connector has a few other features, Analog audio line-out for example. Data transfer speeds shouldn't be affected.

I fully see either a port to the side of the dock connector or an adapter like has been mentioned. I don't think the dock connector is going anywhere.

[johnnyjibbs]

They will not do away with the 30 pin dock adaptor. This is European MPs in suits who have no idea of the consequences of their actions forcing something on everyone. The aim is to keep everything 'simpler' for the average user so they don't get confused about which of 20 different chargers to use.

That I'm all for. Forcing manufacturers into a particular specification without any regard or thought for the limitations it might present is what I'm against. Same fiasco as with European software patents.

[deannnnn]

It's not that bad of an idea... but I don't see Apple abandoning the 30-pin in the USA.

[jsdc2005]

This isn't progress. I want FireWire 800 dammit!

[MedHead]

I cant imagine apple getting rid of the 30 pin, its been around since day one and if they change the iPhone then it would be at odds with the rest of the ipod line. While I dont think that an adapter is likely I could see them providing a dock with a micro-usb connector with the iPhone.

Originally Posted by deannnnn

It's not that bad of an idea... but I don't see Apple abandoning the 30-pin in the USA.

But could you see them making two models differentiated by the charger interface? Think manufacturing costs!

[Cleve]

9to5mac says that Apple can comply with just a MicroUSB adapter...
http://9to5mac.com/apple-micro-usb

[GrahamPadruig]

Why not just add a micro-USB port on the side of the iPhone? That wouldn't affect any of the peripherals, apart from cases that wanted to allow Euro-charging in-case. A USB port would also open up a whole world of possibilities - how about an iPhone that can plug into a printer or scanner?

[RichardF]

Originally Posted by Eso

No. There are already all sorts of converters for the mini USB connector. The point of the standard is that so consumers don't need to use any converters because the port is standard across all phones. I expect Apple will put both ports on the next iPhone - the 30 pin dock will still be their standard for syncing/devices, and the mini USB for charging only.

And with that the iPhone would look like all the Microcrap "smart-phones" out there. I do not want two ports of the iPhone. Keep it simple!

[reubs]

As long as Apple provides a cable and a charger with the phone, this is a non-issue. I like the idea of a micro-USB port on all other phones b/c it allows me to carry just one charger (iPod brick) and one cable (short cable for 2.5" portable HDD and phone) plus the standard iPod cable. The problem happens when other manufacturers provide proprietary equipment for some bizarre charger type, and then those same manufacturers make it so that two years later the same accessories don't work with the phone from the same manufacturer (LG comes to mind...). That's when the fleecing starts, and this is what this measurement means to stop.

[xUKHCx]

Originally Posted by johnnyjibbs

The aim is to keep everything 'simpler' for the average user so they don't get confused about which of 20 different chargers to use.

The aim is to try and reduce the sheer amount of waste present in the mobile phone market.

[Hattig]

Apple has been quite good in respects to keeping the basic Dock connector over the past few years (of course they removed Firewire at some point, and added in video out at another point, and I presume some of the pins are spare to future functionality). However at some point soon they will want to update the pin-out to include HD video output (HDMI or DisplayPort signals, which can be routed to a HDMI or Displayport Port within a dock or similar hardware).

In addition, the EU should also extend this to Digital Cameras and portable media players.

[itickings]

A bit surprised to see Apple among the companies, but happily so. I guess the EU threat "standardize, or we'll regulate" didn't hurt.

As many others, I find it hard to believe the dock connector is going anywhere, but micro usb for charging wouldn't be too complicated or too costly to add in addition to the dock connector. Also, all reporting I've seen so far is about charging, so having a micro usb connector won't necessarily mean than the connector can to be used for anything other than for charging...

[andiwm2003]

It's about time. Apple is particularly bad in this.

Originally Posted by Hattig

Apple has been quite good in respects to keeping the basic Dock connector over the past few years (of course they removed Firewire at some point, and added in video out at another point, and I presume some of the pins are spare to future functionality). ........................................

After getting my iphone 3GS i realized that i can't charge it with any of my old ipod chargers although they have a dock connector.

I also can't use the European charger and my car charger that worked perfectly for my iphone 2g anymore.

Apple please explain to me why a charger that could easily charge my iphone 2g can not charge my iphone 3GS?

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I wonder if this means USB micro and the proprietary connector at the same time..