Universal charging format 2012

The mobile phone chargers industry is set to undergo a major transformation following the announcement of the imminent adoption of Micro-USB as the universal charging solution by 2012. Mobile phone manufacturers have agreed on a common charging module, the flexible Micro-USB which allows mobile devices to be charged from USB ports available on computers, laptop and other devices.

Among the first to support this initiative, launched by the GSM Association, are the 3 Group, AT&T, HTC, KTF, LG, Mobilkom Austria, Motorola, Nokia, NTT Docomo, Orange and Qualcomm. Rogers Wireless, Samsung, Softbank Mobile, Sony Ericsson, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Apple, NEC, RIM and TI are also in this group.

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 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.

After implementation, the plan is projected to bring down production of replacement chargers by as much as 51,000 tons annually. This will eliminate 13.6 million to 21.8 million tons of greenhouse gases emitted during manufacture. Mobile Phones wont ship with chargers after this implementation as the Manufacturers assume you have one allready. HTC is the first manaufacturer to annouce it wont include a wall charger with their new phone (click for the news story) 

Link to more info here