Phone-charger compatibility will make life much simpler for consumers, noted EU Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen. "They will be able to charge mobile phones anywhere from the new common charger," Verheugen said. "This also means considerably less electronic waste, because people will no longer have to throw away chargers when buying new phones."

Eliminating Waste

Today's plethora of external power supplies for mobile phones means there are many chargers that can only interface with a particular handset. Any user buying a replacement handset today must get a new charger -- even though the charger for the previous phone may be in perfect condition.

According to the EC, the disposal of old chargers generates several thousand tons of waste each year. Moreover, consumers are paying for an accessory they shouldn't have to replace.

Beginning in 2010, consumers will be able to charge mobile phones from any external power supply compatible with the new common charger specs. Additionally, the agreement will protect consumers from unsafe operations, which can occur if an incompatible external power supply is used to charge a phone.

A new memorandum of understanding governing the changes has been signed by representatives of Apple, LG Electronics, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Texas Instruments. Verheugen said he was very pleased with the self-regulation agreement. "As a result, the commission does not consider it necessary to introduce legislation," he said.

Preferred Charging Rate

All 10 signatories have agreed to provide standardized chargers equipped with a micro-USB connector. However, the agreement excludes mobile phones that don't support USB data exchange and certain unique phone formats, such as those worn as wristwatches.

Among other things, the agreement establishes a "preferred charging rate," defined as charging a battery from 10 percent capacity to 90 percent capacity within a maximum of six hours. The manufacturers say they will ensure their mobile phones are capable of being charged at this rate beginning next year.

The EC says the agreement will not stifle innovation in battery and charging technologies, new interfaces, multimodal charging capabilities, and improved environmental or charging performance. A review process will be established to adapt charger specs as new technologies arrive, the EC said.

The U.S. wireless association CTIA also supports the move to a universal charging solution based on a micro-USB format, though not until 2012 for handsets sold in the United States.

"We recognize the need and the responsibility we have to help create a low-carbon economy," said CTIA Chief Executive Steve Largent. "The initiative to adopt a universal charging solution is an important step in the right direction."