2010 will see the end of proprietary mobile phone chargers in Europe

A standard phone charger will be available across Europe in 2010.  In an excellent development for the average consumer, the European Union has brought forward by two years the launch of the agreement made between ten mobile manufactuers.

A universal charger was originally announced in Feburary last year at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, where the manufacturers agreed to standardise a single charger based on micro-USB that would work with every phone.  Brussels, however, decided to accelerate progress, with the aim of reducing the production of electronic waste and saving consumers money.

Saving Money and Energy

Today, mobile telephones waste energy in all sorts of ways.  The average life cycle of a phone is estimated at just 18 months.  Every time somebody buys a new phone, there's a charger in the box--and most manufacturers still use their own proprietary settings.

By 2010, phones compatible with the new standard should be on the market, meaning that customers won't need to spend extra money.

The European Commissioner charged with Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen, has suggested that this measure, which has not required any legislation, might extend to other electronic products like cameras and laptops.