Christoph Hammerschmidt EE Times Europe (06/29/2009 8:36 AM EST)

MUNICH, Germany — The members of industry association Digitaleurope have signed a memorandum of understanding aiming at developing a common charging solution for mobile phones. The move offfers the availability of a charger that can be used across all almost brands.

In the memorandum of understanding, the organization which represents more than 90 percent of the European mobile phone and smart phone market, specifies measures to increase the compatibility between mobile phone and chargers. The agreement forestalls EC regulation announced earlier on this topic. As a result to the group's move, EC industry commissioner Guenther Verheugen announced that the Commission does no longer consider it necessary to introduce legislation that would dictate such a unified charger.

Besides making life simpler for consumers, the development of a unified charger for data-enabled mobile phones will also lead to significantly reduced amounts of electronic waste since users will no longer have to throw away the chargers for their old phones when they buy a new one.

The new standard will be available during the year 2010. Mobile phones and chargers supporting the standard will progressively become available, the association said.

Industry organizations such as the German Bitkom hailed the move. "This uniform solution is good for consumers and the ambience," said Bitkom president August-Wilhelm Scheer.

Members of Digitaleurope include mobile handset manufacturers as well as semiconductor, computer and software vendors based not only in Europe but worldwide. Its member list includes about 40 companies such as AMD, Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Intel, Infineon, NXP, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and even Microsoft, as well as a number of European industry associations.

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