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

[Rodimus Prime]

Stella can you explain to me how the consumer benefits if all mobile phones already come with a charger?

If the EU imposed one fits all connector and cable then I agree there would be, after many years, a small cost saving for the consumer but then I would be worried that technological progress would be in the hands of the Eurocrats.

I can answer this one. A lot of consumers buy things like car chargers and spare 2nd chargers for their phones. Now when the consumer buys a new phone all that stuff is worthless and they have to buy it all over again.

I would much rather reuse all my extra chargers and charge chargers instead of buying a new ones.

 

[mytdave]

Standard USB

Standard USB is the way to go. Use a USB to Micro cable if you need to. Standard USB is already the world-wide standard, and it didn't take a commission to make it happen. Here's some examples:

& & & &

 

[Stella]

Stella can you explain to me how the consumer benefits if all mobile phones already come with a charger?

If the EU imposed one fits all connector and cable then I agree there would be, after many years, a small cost saving for the consumer but then I would be worried that technological progress would be in the hands of the Eurocrats.

Yuor thinking present day, and not the near future.

Cell phones come with a charger TODAY, but that will change when almost all cell phones contain the same usb connection.

They won't need to come with chargers because the consumer will likely already have one. If they don't they can buy one separately. Hopefully other devices will follow suite - one charger for multiple devices.

If someone was to ask you
A:"would you like to have a charger that works with multiople devices", or
B:" a charger for each device you own because they are all incompatible with each other?"

What would your answer be?

 

[wreckshop]

The reason more crap is going to end up in landfills is that almost everyone, including all the mfgs that make devices with micro-usb ports include a standard USB to micro-USB cable with their device. Their device can already plug into millions (billions?) of computers, car chargers, and AC power adapters that ALREADY have a STANDARD USB plug.

If the standard is changed to MICRO usb ports, then everyone will eventually have to chuck their existing STANDARD usb power adapters and cables and buy new ones with micro-USB connectors on them.

Ok look, I think you're getting things confused. what is being proposed is that you have a cable that terminates with micro USB on one end. That side will plug into the phone. The other end of the cable terminates in a regular USB cable which plugs into a pronged adapter or can plug right into a computer.

This is the exact method that all newer android phones charge and sync, so they will not be affected by this legislation. Other phones that use a non micro usb connector on the phone, will need to include a micro USB adapter (lame) or change the proprietary connector to micro usb (preferred).

 

[GoodWatch]

I haven't read the legislation, only what already was published in the form of an article months ago. It isn't as if this all of a sudden came out of the blue. Over two years ago it was announced that this was coming so manufacturers aren't ambushed by this. Given the high turn-around time of mobile devices (they become obsolete in a year so to speak) I cannot see the fuss some people are making over this. Especially from non EU citizens. In 2 years time we will not know any better.

Who can object to standards like this? What could possibly be wrong in having a 'one size fits all' charger? That will not only charge my iPhone but my wife's Samsung as well? Without standardisation every major city would still have its own local time and buying paper for your printer would pose a real challenge.

 

[BaldiMac]

Ok look, I think you're getting things confused. what is being proposed is that you have a cable that terminates with micro USB on one end. That side will plug into the phone. The other end of the cable terminates in a regular USB cable which plugs into a pronged adapter or can plug right into a computer.

This is the exact method that all newer android phones charge and sync, so they will not be affected by this legislation. Other phones that use a non micro usb connector on the phone, will need to include a micro USB adapter (lame) or change the proprietary connector to micro usb (preferred).

That's not true at all. The policy makes no requirements with respect to the cable. Android phones will be affected exactly the same way as iPhones. Phones will not need to include adapter. Except insomuch as the include a charger that requires an adapter.

 

[ChazUK]

No problem. And pictures do help explain when words can confuse.

Standard USB charger + USB to Micro cable = good.
View attachment 244355 + View attachment 244356


Micro USB charger only = bad.
View attachment 244357

All making sense now.

My Nexus One charger is hard wired and only works with Micro USB devices. My Dell Streak's charger has a USB port can can charge ALL of my USB chargable devices with the supplied USB leads.

 

[nascimento]

I can answer this one. A lot of consumers buy things like car chargers and spare 2nd chargers for their phones. Now when the consumer buys a new phone all that stuff is worthless and they have to buy it all over again.

I would much rather reuse all my extra chargers and charge chargers instead of buying a new ones.

If you really think this has anything to do with the consumer think again. It has everything to do with the GREEN agenda from Brussels and what PC police think is appropriate for the little people they command.

The consumer gains nothing here.

 

[Number 41]

If someone was to ask you
A:"would you like to have a charger that works with multiople devices", or
B:" a charger for each device you own because they are all incompatible with each other?"

What would your answer be?

C: I don't give a damn and want my government to solve real problems instead of meddling in what I plug into the wall under the guise of "saving the planet."

 

[BlackSmp]

What is your point?

You said that

An Apple charger costs £17.50 on amazon.co.uk (the latest version).

That charger will only work with iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone

That is not true, it will work with other equipments

 

[Rodimus Prime]

If you really think this has anything to do with the consumer think again. It has everything to do with the GREEN agenda from Brussels and what PC police think is appropriate for the little people they command.

The consumer gains nothing here.

It was ask what does the consumer gain. I pointed out exactly what they gained.
I guess you like buying new car chargers and spare chargers every time you buy a new phone.

 

[MacFly123]

Why would a mac need a micro usb port? This is about power adapters.

So you'll just need to buy:
- 1 power thing with USB opening
- 1 cable

if you want to charge (or transfer data) you need 1x USB micro -> USB cable for your PC/Mac (exactly like you need Dock -> USB now).

[For the people that still are fan of the dock after reading.... think of all improvements:]

- 1: every phone has USB all of the suddon.
Wow: all accessoires can be used on only mobile if it has micro usb Just need the software to work. (hey: yeah... i can connect a printer from my computer to my phone all of the suddon!

- Everybody (not only apple, but also nokia, siemens, etc. customers) can buy the same stuff to charge a phone. making prices lower, more efficient stuff etc. Hey: If i'm in my friends car, who has an android, I can charge my iPhone 4!


Will it cost money? Nope.... old phones still have old adapters.

If apple is smart, they support both dock and micro-usb for both data and charging in a sort of click in system. Dock only for backwords compatibility to their old accessoirces. And micro-usb for the improved world of mobiles.

If apple is smart they bring out the best charger in the world, that consumes no energy when it's not connected to a charging phone, and they earn a lot of money on these new devices.

I might be a bit confused. I was under the impression that it would be dock to micro usb. Hence the statement about no Macs having micro usb ports.

If it goes micro usb to usb would Apple really wanna do that? They have 100's of MILLIONS of devices and accessories under the dock connector to usb platform! And isn't there a reason why they designed the 60-pin dock connector the way they did? I thought there were superior aspects to it with data and power transfer hence the reason Apple has never used just plain usb or micro usb like most phones do now already!

Any help here?

 

[j26]

There's another environmental benefit to this move that doesn't seem to have been mentioned.

When phones are sold without charger, i.e. all that's in the box is the phone and a usb cable, there's scope for a significant reduction in the amount of packaging. A knock on from smaller packaging and less weight will be lower transportation costs (you can pack more phones into a container) and attendant fuel savings. This will either result in lower prices or boosted profits for the phone manufacturers (or a combination of both).

There are greater savings to be made from this than just less chargers going into landfill.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Yuor thinking present day, and not the near future.

Cell phones come with a charger TODAY, but that will change when almost all cell phones contain the same usb connection.

They won't need to come with chargers because the consumer will likely already have one. If they don't they can buy one separately. Hopefully other devices will follow suite - one charger for multiple devices.

No they won't.

I bought a HDD enclosure from Newegg, it came with a USB Cable. I'll say that again NEWEGG.COM , a website that appeals to the more techy people. So if a company realizes the importance of an all-in-one package on a website like Newegg, what do you think a company is going to do with a product targeted at the average joe market?

You can look at dedicated power cables as well. The figure 8 2 prong power cable is found on soooooooo meny devices, yet no company expects you to keep your old cable and reuse it with your new device because there is always the chance you don't have the it thus they include a new power cable with the ac adapter.

P.S. Here is the link for you.

 

[3D0G]

C: I don't give a damn and want my government to solve real problems instead of meddling in what I plug into the wall under the guise of "saving the planet."

Your answer (about not giving a damn) is obviously nonsense and argumentative just for the sake of being argumentative. Also, guess what, people and government CAN work on multiple issues simultaneously, some more important, some less, but all in the interest of society, whether you agree or not.

 

[Daveoc64]

You said that



That is not true, it will work with other equipments

I consider the charger (as sold by Apple) to consist of the AC adaptor AND USB to Dock Connector cable.

You can't buy the AC Adaptor without the cable.

The issue here is ultimately that right now you can't take the whole adapter "bundle" that you get with Phone A and use it with Phone B.

You can look at dedicated power cables as well. The figure 8 2 prong power cable is found on soooooooo meny devices, yet no company expects you to keep your old cable and reuse it with your new device because there is always the chance you don't have the it thus they include a new power cable with the ac adapter.

Isn't it so much easier when things use standardised power adaptors?

Many reviewers will give products (like the PlayStation 3) extra points for using a standard power connector.

 

[SactoGuy18]

No exemption required - if you read the MoU the existing Apple charger already meets the requirements. The adapter is allowed to be the cable as long as the cable connects to the charger with a USB A connector.

Ah, so! In that case since the connector on the Apple-built chargers for the iPod, iPhone and iPad is a female USB A socket, it does then meet the European Commission requirements. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[BlackSmp]

I consider the charger (as sold by Apple) to consist of the AC adaptor AND USB to Dock Connector cable.

You can't buy the AC Adaptor without the cable.

The issue here is ultimately that right now you can't take the whole adapter "bundle" that you get with Phone A and use it with Phone B.

Ok, then I understand your point eventhough I don't agree.

After all, the generic charger is bound to come without a cable, so you still need to supply a separate cable. (Or rather, all generic USB chargers that I've checked and that have a USB-A connector comes without any cable)

 

[wreckshop]

That's not true at all. The policy makes no requirements with respect to the cable. Android phones will be affected exactly the same way as iPhones. Phones will not need to include adapter. Except insomuch as the include a charger that requires an adapter.

Android phones have a micro USB port already and are already compliant. So no, they wont be affected exactly the same as an iphone.

 

[MattInOz]

I might be a bit confused. I was under the impression that it would be dock to micro usb. Hence the statement about no Macs having micro usb ports.

If it goes micro usb to usb would Apple really wanna do that? They have 100's of MILLIONS of devices and accessories under the dock connector to usb platform! And isn't there a reason why they designed the 60-pin dock connector the way they did? I thought there were superior aspects to it with data and power transfer hence the reason Apple has never used just plain usb or micro usb like most phones do now already!

Any help here?

Ins't MicroUSB and the AppleDock connector the same shape and pin width except for length?

The only real advantage of the having all those pins is for pushing out other data stream, audio, video, firewire, remote control alot of which is no longer used but still has the pins assigned. USB section is just a standard set of USB pins in the mix with the rest of the pins, I understand there are two sets of USB pins in the dock layout.

One end of the dock is the USB pins next to that are FireWire pins with no iPhone will ever use. So they could notch the dock tongue on the next phone so could use a MicroUSB down one end, yet would still fully work with all the MadeForiPhone accessories.

That's one option that might work.

 

[NightFox]

No problem. And pictures do help explain when words can confuse.

Standard USB charger + USB to Micro cable = good.
View attachment 244355 + View attachment 244356


Micro USB charger only = bad.
View attachment 244357

Both of those are compatible with the agreement, with the addition that the one with the detachable cable (which must connect to the charger with a standard USB connector) can be classed as an adapter and therefore can have any connection on the end, it doesn't have to by a Micro-USB plug.

So, as mentioned before, in future we're either going to get chargers which have a cable and a Micro-USB plug on the end, or chargers which don't have a fixed cable but have a standard USB socket to connect a cable to; these will be supplied with an appropriate cable allowing them to fit whatever proprietary socket the device is fitted with. Of course, this cable could terminate in a Micro-USB plug which would make it the same as the first option. However, the key thing is that the agreement allows it to be an adapter, so it doesn't have to.

The existing Apple charger meets these requirements!

Ah, so! In that case since the connector on the Apple-built chargers for the iPod, iPhone and iPad is a female USB A socket, it does then meet the European Commission requirements. Thanks for the clarification.

Correct!

Just love those UK plugs - my 380v 3-phase electric clothes dryer had a smaller plug than a UK cellphone....

Remember that UK plugs are bigger than most other plugs in the world because they all have fuses incorporated in the plugs as an extra level of protection!

 

[-SD-]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but wouldn't it be better to take a big step forward instead of a little step. Why not focus on a standard battery that can charge on a pad like my wii remote does. Then we could just have one charging pad with multiple cell phones on it, wii remotes and whatever other little gadgets need charging. Seems better than having a dedicated device just to charge your phone. And no I do not want to have to buy some sort of aftermarket case that makes this possible.

Totally agree with this. It's about time we had a standard wireless charging format instead of messing around with MiniUSB. I look forward to the day when all A/V remotes, phones, console pads etc. do wireless charging straight out of the box.

 

[BaldiMac]

Android phones have a micro USB port already and are already compliant. So no, they wont be affected exactly the same as an iphone.

Yes, they will be affected exactly the same. The policy affects the connector to the charger. Both Android phones and iPhones connect to the charger using full USB. The connector on the phone does not matter.

 

[3247]

Remember that UK plugs are bigger than most other plugs in the world because they all have fuses incorporated in the plugs as an extra level of protection!

That's not correct. They do need the fuses because of the way British homes are wired:

On the continent, outlets are simply connected to a 16 A breaker. This is acceptable for power cords.

British installations, however use ring circuits protected by 30 or 32 A breakers. This would be unsafe with usual power cords. Therefore, you need an additional fuse to protect cables rated at less than 30 A.

 

[AidenShaw]

Totally agree with this. It's about time we had a standard wireless charging format instead of messing around with MiniUSB. I look forward to the day when all A/V remotes, phones, console pads etc. do wireless charging straight out of the box.

I'd prefer that we avoid putting even more electromagnetic radiation into the environment - put my vote towards wired or dock charging.