The GSMA and 17 leading mobile operators and manufacturers have committed to implementing a Universal Charging Solution that uses Micro-USB for new mobile phones. The UCS solution is expected to roll out in worldwide markets by 2012.
The initiative aims to ensure that the mobile industry adopts a common format for mobile phone charger connections and meets energy-efficient targets set out by the Open Mobile Terminal Platform. The move is expected to reduce the number of chargers being manufactured annually by 50 percent and reduce greenhouse gases by 13.6 million to 21.8 million tones per year.
The universal chargers are expected to include a 4-star or higher efficiency rating, which is up to three times more energy-efficient than an unrated charger.
The initial group of companies who have joined the GSMA's 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.
LG and Samsung are both launching cell phones with built-in solar panels for recharging the batter.
