The GSMA and 17 leading mobile operators and
manufacturers are developing a universal green mobile charger that
can be used by most phones on the market.
The aim of the initiative, led by the
GSMA, is to ensure that the mobile industry adopts a common
format for mobile phone charger connections and energy-efficient
chargers, resulting in an estimated 50% reduction in standby energy
consumption.
The move would also potentially
eliminate up to 51,000 tonnes of duplicate chargers, as well as
enhance the customer experience in not having to worry about using
a specific charger for their phone.
The group has set an "ambitious target" that by 2012, a
universal charging solution (UCS) will be widely available in the
market worldwide and will use
micro-USB
as the common universal charging interface.
The group agreed that by 1 January 2012, the majority of 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) group, the industry body
which developed the technical requirements behind UCS.
"The mobile industry has a pivotal role to play in tackling
environmental issues, and this programme is an important step that
could lead to huge savings in resources, not to mention convenience
for consumers," said Rob Conway, CEO and member of the board at the
GSMA.
"There is enormous potential in mobile to help people live and
work in an eco-friendly way, and with the backing of some or the
biggest names in the industry this initiative will lead the
way."
The initial group of companies which 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.
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