ITU approves standard cellphone charger

A new Universal Charging Solution (UCS) has been approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a division in the United Nations, according to a Thursday report. The energy efficient charger will be compatible with all cellphones regardless of make and model, with certain unnamed manufacturers already incorporating the standard into their products, the ITU says. Other than the energy savings, the new charger will also help eliminate waste as the charger can be retained as new phones are upgraded and older ones are thrown out.

While no specifics as to the technical specifications of the device are known, major phone manufacturers Nokia and Sony Ericsson are known to be partners in the undertaking. The UCS is expected to show up in European phones starting sometime in 2010.

Whether this European will be similar or identical to one being developed by the GSM Association is unknown, but likely, as Nokia and Sony Ericsson are also working on this solution. Other partners include phonemakers LG, Motorola and Samsung, along with carriers that include AT&T, KTF, Telefonica, T-Mobile and Vodafone. This standard would rely on a micro USB connection and is expected to be adopted by 2012. – Electronista

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