Charge for Universal USB Chargers in 2012 by GSMA

By Contributor Wireless and Mobile News on February 19, 2009 12:49 PM

The GSMA and 17 mobile operators and manufacturers announced that they are committed to a cross-industry standard for a universal charger for new mobile phones. What this means is that one charger would work will all the phones.

The move should result in approximately per cent reduction in standby energy consumption, the possible elimination of up to 51,000 tons of duplicate chargers and reduction of customer frustration..

The target date to create the universal charging solution (UCS) is 2012. It will use Micro-USB as the common universal charging interface. The group agreed that by the 1^st January 2012, the majority of all new mobile phone models available will support a universal charging connector and the majority of chargers shipped will meet the high efficiency targets set out by the OMTP (Open Mobile Terminal Platform), the industry body who developed the technical requirements behind UCS.

The initial group of companies who have joined the GSMA's UCS initiative include 3 Group, AT&T, KTF, LG, mobilkom austria, Motorola, Nokia, Orange, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, T-Mobile and Vodafone - some of the world's largest mobile operators and manufacturers who together are committed to making a universal charging solution a reality up to 2012 and beyond.

A universal charger will also make life much simpler for the consumer, who will be able to use the same charger for future handsets, as well as being able to charge their mobile phone anywhere from any available charger. UCS chargers will also include a 4-star² or higher efficiency rating, which is up to three times more energy-efficient than an unrated charger³. Furthermore, with potentially 50 per cent less chargers⁴ being manufactured each year, the industry can expect to reduce greenhouse gases in manufacturing and transporting replacement chargers by 13.6 to 21.8 million tonnes a year. To ensure the uptake of a universal charging solution, the operators and manufacturers who have partnered with the GSMA to launch this initiative are working alongside the OMTP to roll-out the new solution in order to meet the targets set for 2012. The initiative will also work with the wider operator and manufacturing communities to secure global participation and commitment as well as educate the industry and promote the benefits of a universal charger via a targeted marketing campaign.