Phone-charging standard

A group of cellphone companies have at last reached an agreement on a standard charging interface for cellphones, reports say. The Open Mobile Terminal Platform -- a consortium including the likes of LG, Nokia, Samsung and others -- has agreed to use Micro-USB, a standard devised by the USB Implementers Forum towards the beginning of the year. It of course supplies both power and data, the primary advantage over the common Mini-USB format being a thinner connector. This is considered potentially important as cellphones continue to be shrunk as far as possible.

The need for a standard stems from the plethora of cables types already on the market, often varying from company to company, or even phone to phone. The adoption of Micro-USB, which does not have a clear timeframe, may also have a theoretical benefit to the environment. If cellphone makers did not have to include a charger with every phone, it could result in smaller boxes, lower shipping requirements, and possibly a reduction in the number of cables produced. [via CNET]

By Electronista Staff