This isn’t much of a diary entry, but in case you’ve missed it – there has not been much attention in the MSM – charger madness is coming to an end.
Follow below:::
Universal phone charger standard approved
Geneva, 22 October 2009 — ITU has given its stamp of approval to an energy-efficient one-charger-fits-all new mobile phone solution. The announcement comes as ITU lobbies hard to have the essential role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) recognized in the draft Copenhagen Agreement as a key part of the solution towards mitigating climate change.
Every mobile phone user will benefit from the new Universal Charging Solution (UCS), which enables the same charger to be used for all future handsets, regardless of make and model. In addition to dramatically cutting the number of chargers produced, shipped and subsequently discarded as new models become available, the new standard will mean users worldwide will be able to charge their mobiles anywhere from any available charger, while also reducing the energy consumed while charging.
The new UCS standard was based on input from the GSMA, which predicts a 50 per cent reduction in standby energy consumption, elimination of 51,000 tonnes of redundant chargers, and a subsequent reduction of 13.6 million tonnes in gas emissions each year.
Although use of the new standard is not required of anyone, all the major mobile phone manufacturers have acceded to the standard. Starting next year, phones will be manufactured accordingly. Considering the annual global sales of 180 million cell phones needing chargers, this is not a day too soon.
The news of this fortunate development first surfaced at the Mobile World Congress 2009 which took place last February in Barcelona.
Initial adopters include: 3 Group, AT&T, KTF, LG, mobilkom austria, Motorola, Nokia, Orange, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, T-Mobile and Vodafone.
And now, the standard is approved!
What a blessing!
