European Commission Set to Adopt Universal Micro-USB Smartphone Charging Standard in January

[Cavepainter]

Standardization is stupid. Like standardizing all electrical outlets in the whole country so I can buy a lamp, microwave or electric shaver anywhere and bring it home and have it actually plug into my home. Dumb idea. Or having all the train tracks in the US being the same width, so one Amtrak train can run anywhere. Or making a secure digital card be the same shape as other secure digital cards so I can buy 1 card that will fit in both my digital cameras. Or making light bulbs all have the same "A" base so I can plug them in almost anywhere. Or making all CDs (and DVDs) in the whole country the same format so they play in all CD players. Or making a stop sign look the same in Georgia as it does in California. Or having all cars run on 12 volt electrical systems so I can find a battery easy or buy a replacement for my my taillight at the local 7/11. Or making bluetooth work the same for hundreds of different products. Or making all steps in any building be the same height. Or having gasoline formulas the same so that a car from Texas can fill up in New York- or even one standardized electrical or CNG connector so an electric car or a gas car could do the same. Or having one pair of headphones with a standard plug that can plug into both your computer and your stereo. Or having the same kind of monitor connector so that I can put a Dell monitor on a Mac Pro............... or.........

Any standards are initially annoying as companies have to work to bring their own products together, but technology standardization only makes life easier for us all in the long run.

 

[macguysea]

Universal Charger

Late last week, Deutsche Welle reported that the European Commission has formally approved a policy that will require nearly all smartphones and simpler data-enabled phones to adopt a standard micro-USB charging connector as of January 2011. The policy is a formalization of an agreement signed by ten top mobile phone manufacturers, including Apple, last year.As Wired notes, it is unclear how Apple plans to comply with the standard, given its proprietary 30-pin connector compatible with all existing iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch models, as well as certain other iPod models and a host of accessories.The European Commission is the executive body for the European Union, which comprises 27 countries with a total of over 500 million people. Consequently, design changes adopted to meet European Union standards are almost certain to trickle down to the rest of the world to provide for simpler design and manufacturing processes, as well as to ensure interoperability.

Article Link: European Commission Set to Adopt Universal Micro-USB Smartphone Charging Standard in January

It's about time!!!!

 

[BlackSmp]

Why don't look into The memorandum itself? It is pretty clear (almost

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sect...argers_annex_ii_to_mou_january_12_2010_en.pdf

Section 2 says that an adaptor can be used and that a cable with a propretary plug instead of a micro-B plug is considered to be än adaptor. Pretty much like Apple has today but perhaps they need to change to allow a compliant standardized charger instead of Apples specialized usb charger of today.

The memorandum specifies the electrical requirements, not the format of the plug at the mobile terminal. It specifies the charger and that mobile terminals shall be possible to charge by connecting to a standardized charger as long as it has a suitable cable.

A charger with a fix cable shall have a micro-B connector and chargers with detachable cables shall have a USB-A connector

So Apple can continue with their 30 pin plug without problems.

Neither does the memorandum stops future improvements to chargers. See http://europa.eu/rapid/pressRelease...format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en which states: "The Commission welcomes that the MoU will not preclude innovation in the fast moving mobile phone market by fixing a certain technology forever. Therefore, when the time has come, the MoU will adapt to future charging technologies"

 

[vipergts2207]

Why don't look into The memorandum itself? It is pretty clear (almost

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sect...argers_annex_ii_to_mou_january_12_2010_en.pdf

Section 2 says that an adaptor can be used and that a cable with a propretary plug instead of a micro-B plug is considered to be än adaptor. Pretty much like Apple has today but perhaps they need to change to allow a compliant standardized charger instead of Apples specialized usb charger of today.

The memorandum specifies the electrical requirements, not the format of the plug at the mobile terminal. It specifies the charger and that mobile terminals shall be possible to charge by connecting to a standardized charger as long as it has a suitable cable.

A charger with a fix cable shall have a micro-B connector and chargers with detachable cables shall have a USB-A connector

So Apple can continue with their 30 pin plug without problems.

Neither does the memorandum stops future improvements to chargers. See http://europa.eu/rapid/pressRelease...format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en which states: "The Commission welcomes that the MoU will not preclude innovation in the fast moving mobile phone market by fixing a certain technology forever. Therefore, when the time has come, the MoU will adapt to future charging technologies"

What do you think you're doing!? How are people supposed to complain and act like they know what they're talking about when you go around informing them of the actual facts?

 

[brianfast]

Our wonderful United States of America has always been out of sync with the rest of the world i.e. fractional system vs. metrics, which is far more accurate and standardized. We use to actually get it, but we don't anymore...

The metric system is no more accurate than any other measurement system

 

[BlackSmp]

What do you think you're doing!? How are people supposed to complain and act like they know what they're talking about when you go around informing them of the actual facts?

Sorry, my bad

 

[spacepower7]

Amazing. No more buying a new phone and wasting your old charger.

You mean the 8 old style and 3 micro Nokia chargers i have that are going to end up in a landfill?

Go watch "A Decent Factory" documentary about a factory producing chargers in China when they could have been using mini-USB all along.

What a waste? But I guess it gives people jobs.

And why is the US not mandated this yet? Should have been done years ago!

 

[Truffy]

another reason for me to delay an iPad purchase

 

[tatonka]

The Eu members of parliament are a bunch of pariahs and pass the time hassling the people of the member states with bureaucracy and paperwork.

They are happy measuring bananas and inventing banana standards, something that is critical to the civilized world. (its normally the women that measure the bananas) Most have been placed there because there was no other place to put them but once in a while someone sensible thinks about something sensible!

I agree it does sound stupid in the beginning to standardize fruits .. but you know what, the industry actually loves those standards. The can build machines that are guaranteed to work with certain classes of fruit, like a cucumber slicer.
Although it does sound stupid in the beginning these standards actually helped the industry.


T.

 

[macsmurf]

Sorry, my bad

You totally stifle innovation by making sense.

 

[NightFox]

Can you point to where it has to go?

How about left hand side of the iPhone 4, about 1cm up from the bottom? There's some sort of pointless black line across it right now...

Best thing is we'd all still be able to charge our phones whilst using them since Steve pointed out how we'd all been holding our phones wrong for the last few decades.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

The idea is that you don't have to throw out your old proprietary cable when you get a new phone.

Makes no sense.

I had a Samsung flip-phone a few years ago. It came with a proprietary charger that I used. When the phone broke I threw it out plus the charger.

Now under this new standard, I SHOULD keep my old charger because it will be compatible with my new phone. BUT guess what... my new phone comes with a new charger. So as I get more and more old chargers, what am I going to do with them? Have them waste space in my house or throw them out?

Apple screwed over a lot of those nice produces when they abandon firewire and only allow USB charging.

Most likely to comply with this standard since firewire was 12v and usb is 5v.

 

[Brandon78249]

I see the EU's point and I see how it would be a good idea, but I don't like the law. What if using something else is better? Maybe not right now, but how long will this law hold back innovation from a new port and standard being better to use? Maybe you can't do everything with a micro-usb port, and I don't want two ports, or some big thing to make everything run through usb. I don't care for the 30 pin, but Apple can use that port for EVERYTHING including usb, which is nice. I just wouldn't want two ports on my phone, one for some stuff and one for other things. It would get stupid and can hurt the future because they get around to updating the law.

Also, I don't like how the EU can make a law and it will pretty much change every country, because if you want to sell there you'll just make all your products do that. Sometimes it is a good thing, but sometimes not. I don't like how they have control over my country because they wanted to do something in theirs. Why does the EU like to stick their noses into everything? I do agree that most things I hear about the EU "sticking their noses" into is good for consumers, but they just seem to do it a lot.

The Stig

Also, yes, Apple will just make an adapter. It would be pretty easy since that is what they already do. They will just need to change the head of the 30-pin to usb to micro-usb, and change it from male to female. They don't care because it doesn't effect them at all, so why not play ball instead of getting the EU pissed and making the front page of the paper around the world.

This is %100 what I was going to type to a T!

Thanks

 

[nascimento]

Standardization is stupid. Like standardizing all electrical outlets in the whole country so I can buy a lamp, microwave or electric shaver anywhere and bring it home and have it actually plug into my home. Dumb idea. Or having all the train tracks in the US being the same width, so one Amtrak train can run anywhere. Or making a secure digital card be the same shape as other secure digital cards so I can buy 1 card that will fit in both my digital cameras. Or making light bulbs all have the same "A" base so I can plug them in almost anywhere. Or making all CDs (and DVDs) in the whole country the same format so they play in all CD players. Or making a stop sign look the same in Georgia as it does in California. Or having all cars run on 12 volt electrical systems so I can find a battery easy or buy a replacement for my my taillight at the local 7/11. Or making bluetooth work the same for hundreds of different products. Or making all steps in any building be the same height. Or having gasoline formulas the same so that a car from Texas can fill up in New York- or even one standardized electrical or CNG connector so an electric car or a gas car could do the same. Or having one pair of headphones with a standard plug that can plug into both your computer and your stereo. Or having the same kind of monitor connector so that I can put a Dell monitor on a Mac Pro............... or.........

Any standards are initially annoying as companies have to work to bring their own products together, but technology standardization only makes life easier for us all in the long run.

Be careful what you wish for. There is a fine line between good standardisation and bad standardisation.

Every time there are economies of scale there is more unemployment, or where do you think the savings come from, thin air? What really matters is that money circulates. There is also the question of dumbing down everything (in this case technology) because it does not fit this or that principle/law and dont forget once the laws are passed it takes forever to have them adjusted or changed later on.

Some of your examples are “good standardisation”, they contribute to the welfare of society in general. A USB port/cable to charge your phones may be convenient but is not fundamental, its in that grey area.

By the way anyone actually heard about "cradle to cradle" you should read about it. As long as the products are optimized for recycling there is no reason that the old chargers should end up in the skip.

 

[NightFox]

OK, here's my existing UK iPhone charger. Note the USB 'A' port in the base into which I currently connect my iPhone's charging cable.

And here's the part of the EU MoU that deals with chargers with detachable cables: (I've numbered the sections for reference)

1. An EPS provided with a detachable cable shall be equipped with a USB Standard-A receptacle.

2. Standard detachable cable assembly, supplied for use with the EPS, shall have Standard-A and Micro-B plugs and meet the USB-IF Cable Assembly Test Requirements for Compliant Usage of Connectors and Cables in Micro-USB 1.01. (http://www.usb.org/developers/compliance/cable/).”

3. Above requirement also applies to detachable cables used as adaptor i.e. where the Micro-B is replaced by a proprietary plug​

So, Requirement 1: existing charger already meets this requirement

Requirement 2: refers to the 'standard detachable cable' which has to terminate in a Micro-USB plug. However, where a non-standard charging port exists on the phone, the manufacturer can supply an adapter, which can actually be this cable. In other words, the detachable cable can terminate in a proprietary plug and itself be classed as an adapter; the adapter doesn't need to be be a removable one stuck onto the end of a Micro-USB plug. So requirement 2 is not relevant in this case.

Requirement 3: this is the type of adapter cable Apple already uses for charging: the Micro-USB plug is replaced by a proprietary plug.

In other words, Apple's existing iPhone charger already meets these requirements by having a USB A socket in the charger and a detachable cable adapter with its proprietary connector on the other end.

Damn Brussels and its fascist, innovation stifling, market-killing legislation.

 

[BlackSmp]

Makes no sense.

I had a Samsung flip-phone a few years ago. It came with a proprietary charger that I used. When the phone broke I threw it out plus the charger.

Now under this new standard, I SHOULD keep my old charger because it will be compatible with my new phone. BUT guess what... my new phone comes with a new charger. So as I get more and more old chargers, what am I going to do with them? Have them waste space in my house or throw them out?


Most likely to comply with this standard since firewire was 12v and usb is 5v.

I would recommend you to read the FAQ regarding this memorandum

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressRelease...format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

And focus on this part

"What will be the impact of the MoU on prices?
Consumers will be able to purchase mobile phones without a charger, thus logically reducing their cost. They will also be able to purchase much more cost-effective stand-alone chargers than it is currently the case"

That is, going the same route as the Ipod (at least the Nano) that is delivered without charger and only with a charger cable

Sorry for spoling the fun with facts

 

[Snookerman]

I agree about the adapter, but I think it will be the other way around: the iPhone will switch from the current port to Micro-USB and they will include (or sell) an adapter to fit with the old connectors.

(Sorry if anyone already wrote this, couldn't read through all the posts.)

 

[BlackSmp]

roprietary plug.

In other words, Apple's existing iPhone charger already meets these requirements by having a USB A socket in the charger and a detachable cable adapter with its proprietary connector on the other end.

Damn Brussels and its fascist, innovation stifling, market-killing legislation.

Oh, another European spoiling the fun by checking the facts

BTW, as I understand this memorandum it isn't a law or requirement but an agreement between EU and the companies that signed the memorandum. So you're not required by law to comply but you have promised that you will. So the companies that signed do also see benefits with the agreement.

But I have not been able to find the reference that confirms this understanding of mine

 

[416049]

At least I am gonna get rid of the Cable Salad around my Desk...

 

[BlackSmp]

I agree about the adapter, but I think it will be the other way around: the iPhone will switch from the current port to Micro-USB and they will include (or sell) an adapter to fit with the old connectors.

(Sorry if anyone already wrote this, couldn't read through all the posts.)

Do you want to make a bet on that? I'll bet that Apple keeps the current connector and the current design. The cable will be the adaptor and it will look like it does today.

 

[nascimento]

I agree it does sound stupid in the beginning to standardize fruits .. but you know what, the industry actually loves those standards. The can build machines that are guaranteed to work with certain classes of fruit, like a cucumber slicer.
Although it does sound stupid in the beginning these standards actually helped the industry.


T.

repeat post!

 

[nascimento]

I agree it does sound stupid in the beginning to standardize fruits .. but you know what, the industry actually loves those standards. The can build machines that are guaranteed to work with certain classes of fruit, like a cucumber slicer.
Although it does sound stupid in the beginning these standards actually helped the industry.


T.

Again it helps the conglomerates and I can give you many examples where it does not work, a simple one is...you grade a fruit by its size or by its quality? at the moment its by the size and quality is secondary. Where do the different specimens of plants come into this equation if they do not fit the grading of a certain lady in Brussels?

The bananas may be of excellent quality (nutritionally speaking) but if they are of not the correct length they cant be categorized as grade A. There are many types of banana plants that most Europeans have never heard of precisely because of this grading. Frankly I think everyone is missing out. It is also ruining the "gene pool". Let us guess what types of companies gained from this uniformization and are now supplying most of the European market? (European companies or mass producers from the tropics that have the conglomerates backing?
The medium sized producers have been totally wiped out although they produced excellent fruit and we will all live in happiness with genetically modified food that have the correct dimensions.

 

[twilson]

I would think they would simply include an adaptor that would allow you to connect the phone to a micro-usb charger. An adaptor wouldn't be that costly.

But surely a separate adapter wouldn't really address the issue?

If you didn't have your adapter to hand, you couldn't use another charger.

That said, the Dock Connector is way more than a data-transfer/charging point (it doesn't have 30-pins vs. USB's 4 for nothing).

Maybe for charging-only Apple will have to add a micro-USB port, I dunno.

 

[NightFox]

People are really over-complicating this issue!

All it means is that the manufacturers who have signed up (including Apple) have agreed that in the future there will only be two variations of phone charger:

1. A charger with a fixed cable which will end in a Micro-USB plug

2. A charger with a removable cable connecting to the charger with a standard USB A connection. The cable itself can be classed as an adapter so the manufacturer can put whatever plug they want on the other end. Like Apple already do.

It really is that simple; no change in Apple chargers, no additional adapters required, no Micro-USB port on future iPhones, no infringements of our human rights. Status quo ante.

 

[kernkraft]

Too early for this, but just having breakfast...

Do YOU know what fascism means. A defining feature of Fascist economies is policy planning between the government and corporations (which is why Nazi Germany was not fascist, but nationalistic socialism. The Italians were fascist).
I agree, it is ridiculous that the U.S. government had bumper regulations like that.

You might try to twist it, but fascism is fundamentally a political ideology based on national sentiments, authoritarianism and radicalism. No sane person can seriously compare the EU's supranational arrangement with fascist Italy, where the economy wasn't much different from several other countries at the time in Europe or in other parts of the World since. In economic sense, fascism cannot be identified as a unique arrangement, whereas the whole point of the European Coal and Steel Community (the earliest form of what eventually become the European Union) is mostly economic.Anything else that goes on top of it, including political, cultural or legal matters is a logical extension of the idea that in order to keep the region and 27 economies able to compete with overseas competition, there is a need for unified legislation and countries should share common goals that filters down to how individual countries go on about their own domestic issues.

There is still a UN, there is still NATO, Commonwealth, there is still a European Court of Human Rights that has nothing to do with the European Union. Within the EU, there are still 27 independent countries with their own borders, legislations, national parliaments and their own parliamentary systems. Some of them are monarchies and some of them are republics. Some have Euro and some kept their own currencies. Countries can set their own rates of taxes and as long as it doesn't interfere with a few basic regulations that protect competition, they can introduce all sorts of taxes and charges. The EU doesn't say how you go on about your daily business, but when it comes to matters that might interfere with the EU competing as a whole economic unity, the EU is likely to have regulation in place.



Many comments were against the EU and its legislations. I'm not sure that the argument that regulation limits competition is a valid one or if even that it's relevant. The EU, after very long and extensive consultation acted to impose various fuel economy targets for car manufacturers. Car companies were furious and demanded that the EU changed the figures. In the end, companies learnt to comply with the rules and now, European cars are even better in fuel economy. BMW and Mercedes were particularly anxious about meeting targets. In the end, this will them make stronger in the global marketplace.

No economy is completely free. In fact, I'd argue that the US is not the land of the free economy but it's the land of the monopolies. No regulation actually favours the companies who are early to exploit the high gains of a new area. If the US was completely wild capitalist, you'd still have IBM, Microsoft and a few more large corporation representing the IT industry. If there were no regulations about bankruptcy, company finances and tax, Apple might have been already extinct after their difficulties back in the nineties. A completely free economic model would favour the strong.

Also, the US always liked to employ protectionism as a tool to restrict foreign competition entering the US. My first real disappointment with the current president was his affair with Chinese tyres. He managed to top that with his unforgivable reaction about BP.