'One size fits all' phone charger soon a reality

PHONE CHARGING: Set to be made easier from next year, after EC reaches agreement with mobile operators. (Getty Images)

A single "standard" phone charger that will be compatible across all makes and models is set to be made available, starting next year.

The initiative comes after major handset companies Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Texas Instruments, reached an accord with the European Commission. It came after the Commission threatened Europe-wide legislation to get the major handset makers to co-operate.

There are currently more than 30 types of phone chargers in circulation in member states of the European Union, with industry estimates saying more than 50,000 are lying around unused, due to compatibility problems between different handset manufacturers.

EU Industry commissioner Gunter Verheugen said: ''I am very pleased the industry has found an agreement, which will make life much simpler for consumers.

''This also means considerably less electronic waste because people will no longer have to throw away chargers when buying new phones,'' he added.

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