The European Commission and major cell phone manufacturers have agreed to support a standard charger for all phones. The phones would use a standard micro-USB socket to ensure compatibility.
The commission expects that most phones sold in 2010 will eventually follow this category.
The universal charger concept was backed by GSMA (a trade association for mobile carriers using GSM technology) in February; it had negotiated a deal with phone makers to get the micro-USB technology on cell phone chargers by 2012. The CTIA, the US wireless association, supported the standard in April.
People will not have to throw away their charger whenever they buy a new phone, said Guenter Verheugen, EU Industry Commissioner, in a statement.
Companies such as Nokia, Apple, LG, RIM, Motorola, NEC, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Texas Instruments have signed the agreement.
