Universal mobile charger by 2012

Leading mobile phone manufacturers agreed on Tuesday to produce a standardized charger, to save money for consumers and reduce waste.

Each mobile phone maker has its own charger design, sometimes using several across models, which increases replacement costs for users and leads to unwanted cables when a consumer swaps brands.

The industry body, GSM Association, said leading manufacturers had agreed to link up to resolve the problem. “This is a broad agreement that will move the industry to a single, energy-efficient charger for mobile phones,” said Michael O’Hara, marketing director, GSMA.

The standard shape to be adopted by more than 20 manufacturers, including Nokia, Motorola and Samsung, is to be a mini-USB. The new charger will be more energy efficient, the GSMA said.

“The target is that the majority of mobile phones shipped by 2012 will support this new interface,” added O’Hara.

Manufacturers had been under pressure from the European Commission to produce a standardised charger.