TI technology is used in the European standard for common chargers for data-enabled mobile phones.

Recently, TI and many of its customers joined with The European Commission to create a basis for a common charging solution for data-enabled mobile phones. The agreement was achieved without new regulation but instead by a voluntary approach with industry. The necessary standards were constructed through the normal European standardization process.

The companies that signed the agreement to introduce the common charging solution in the European Union (EU) cover about 90 percent of the European mobile phone market. They include TI, Nokia, Apple, Motorola, Qualcomm, NEC, Research in Motion (RIM), SonyEricsson, LGE, Samsung, Emblaze Mobile, Huawei Technologies, TCT Mobile (ALCATEL mobile phones) and Atmel.

The European technology industry association, DIGITALEUROPE, on behalf of the participating companies, handed over the first example of a common charger to the European Commission in Brussels on February 8th.

Expected benefit to the environment
According to the European Commission, each year over 185 million mobile phones are sold in the EU. As a result of new phones coming with new chargers or being incompatible with old chargers, it is estimated that 50,000 tons of chargers are rendered redundant each year. Other estimates refer to more than a billion unused chargers lying around in European cupboards and drawers.

With the launch of the common charger, the need for multiple chargers diminishes as consumers will be able to re-use their chargers with new and future products, helping reduce electronic waste. Officials say the common chargers are expected to last about 10 years.

Because these chargers comply with the latest European harmonized standards, common chargers are also expected to improve energy efficiency, decreasing energy consumption.

TI’s involvement
TI has been involved with the initiative to create standardized mobile phone charging in Europe for some time, but a new generation of technical standards available since late December helped make this objective a reality.

“We’re optimistic that other regions will see the value of common chargers and adopt this approach,” said Steve Bonner, TI’s public affairs director in Europe. “We’re glad to be part of something that can truly make such a positive impact.”

To read more about the new European standard and the common charger initiative, visit commoncharger.eu.

Click here to watch a video about the common charger.