New Move On Standardising Mobile Phones …
- January 22nd, 2011
- Posted by EUEditor
A new cross-borders initiative on standardising mobile telephony in the European Union will see the adoption of a standard electric phone charger – to take over from 30 different ones currently in use.
It expects the move will mean vast savings for the environment with reduced duplication and fewer chargers being thrown away by frustrated consumers.
A celebrated initiative by the European Commission in 2007 saw the imposition of a standard fee schedule on companies, so you could use your cell phone in any EU member country without paying very steep international “roam†fees. See EUAustralia Online, “Roaming charges dropâ€, 23.5.07.
The initiative was advanced at the time, as amongst other things, a great step in communicating the advantages of the European Idea to young people — and such moves now get full promotional treatment in “social mediaâ€, via outlets such as the EC’s own “EU Tube†service.
Statement by the EU – 21.1.11.
At the moment there are more than 30 different types of chargers for phones across Europe.
It is estimated that 51,000 tonnes of redundant chargers are generated each year and the introduction of the new charger will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 13.6m tonnes.
The European Commission signed an agreement with ten leading mobile companies to offer a standard charger that will be based on a Micro-USB connector.
Reference
See EUtube – http://www.youtube.com/eutube