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One universal phone charger? Yes please!

Soon, all phones will use the same type of charger.

EU lawmakers are expected to create a new rules to standardise battery chargers for mobile phones. If passed, we can expect to see standard chargers hitting shelves in 2017.

Following a unanimous vote to create the regulation, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) met to develop an outline agreement which would apply to all devices, including smartphones and tablets.

The EU wants all phones to use the same type of charger.

The MEPs have taken action in response to calls to reduce the amount of waste from discarded chargers.

If the law is passed at a Union-level, member states will be required to implement the new rules into their own national constitutions within two years. They will then have a further year to enforce the legislation with manufacturers, including Apple and Samsung.

The legislation is likely to be most detrimental to Apple. Whilst most Windows and Android handsets already have microUSB ports in common, Apple devices now carry the company’s proprietary Lightning connector.

Though the Lightning connector has some advantages over rival ports but is unlikely to be chosen as the universal solution.

That said, there are still a few hurdles to overcome. The draft needs to be approved by an internal committee and signed off by the European Council.

-Cat Dow

Image: Flickr

 

 

 

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