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Apple, others agree to Micro-USB standard in Europe for mobile devices

According to Reuters, Apple and many other phone companies have agreed to use the micro-USB standard for phone chargers in the EU.  

Top mobile telephone suppliers have agreed to back an EU-wide harmonization of phone chargers, the European Commission said on Monday, hailing the pact as good news for consumers and the environment.

"People will not have to throw away their charger whenever they buy a new phone," said EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, estimating that unwanted phone accessories accounted for thousands of tons of waste in Europe each year.

The other companies named by Reuters include:

Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG, NEC, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung and Texas Instruments.

Technically, the iPhone is currently (har!) charged and synced by USB so making an adapter that works for micro USB is just the changing the shape of the connector.  A free adapter could also be included with the iPhone to clear the requirements.

 

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Avatar for Seth Weintraub Seth Weintraub

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