Verheugen admitted today welcomed in a press conference for the voluntary agreement reached among the top ten
manufacturers
who, he recalled, cover 90% market share in Europe to ensure that "starting next year the new mobile are compatible with each other" in as "any charger can be used to (buy) any cellphone." This charger is not common in Europe but made in China, he added.
In his view, the introduction of a universal charger to the EU will not only make life easier for users, but also to solve the current problem of storage of different chargers in homes since the mobile phone is a product of short-lived and avoid further "the problem of security" that can be recharged when not moving properly, a problem which, in some cases, may even cause the phone to explode.
The EU executive will work to promote a common standard to ensure a safe use of new mobile, the commissioner explained. "Failure to develop a common standard that ensures the safety of this product (...) can be quite fast. In a year or so, the new mobile with this new charger," he explained.
The director general of the
Manufacturers Association Ditigal Mobile Europe that includes several of which have signed the memorandum, Bridget Cosgrave explained that the new charger that will allow the mobile phone is loaded if it does not consume electricity from the mains while the terminal is connected to it and also allow the mobile charge in a "more simple and fast."
The major mobile manufacturers are committed during the World Mobile Congress, held last February in Barcelona, only to introduce the magazine from January 1, 2012.
Cosgrave said today that manufacturers Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Texas Instruments to introduce the charger only "within the calendar year 2010, but emphasized that the degree of Convergence shippers depend on consumers buying new mobile data transmission
capacity. Currently, one quarter of mobile phones sold in the EU correspond to devices with this capability, he added.
For his part, Verheugen said that "the trend is clear," referring to the new handsets sold in the EU. "The mobile data transmission capacity will absolutely dominate in the market and, indeed, Brussels anticipated that the stock of those with old mobile data transmission capacity is" within three years. "
Across the European Union are currently between 300 and 400 million mobile phones and the industry expects to sell between 175 and 185 million new terminal in 2009, according to how the Community executive.
Verheugen also stressed "the world" which will be introduced into the market of a common charger for mobile phones and pledged to address the market with trading partners such as United States and China to expand geographically beyond its use in the EU , which is confident that "very soon" a reality.
Exceptions
The commissioner explained that the compatible charger is "valid" for the new mobile data transmission capacity but not for "some specific models" as the older models, incorporated into the mobile wristwatches or designed specifically for minors, which allow incoming calls but not make calls from the mobile terminal. Cosgrave said, however, that device will develop a "converter" to adjust the old to the new mobile interface.
Verheugen pledged to present "this year" a legislative proposal to ensure a common charger in the European Union if the industry did not meet their commitment to develop, but stressed the importance of developing from a "voluntary agreement" with industry, since it would be "much faster" introduction into the market.
For its part, Cosgrave said that "still remains to be seen as the financial impact that will have the introduction of the single charger in the sales price of mobile phones because they do not have data on the cost to shippers in the final price of the mobile .
However, Brussels hopes that its introduction will also reduce the price of mobile phones because they do not have to be sold with charger, as at present.
Extension to other equipment unique charger
Although Verheugen as CEO of Europe Ditigal said that although the mobile manufacturers are committed to developing only a single charger for all new mobile phones, not excluded that in the future to develop a single charger for multiple devices, including mobile computers laptops and digital cameras.
"I want to achieve in the near future, ie a couple of years, we can use the same device to recharge their mobile phones to all the teams we have IC technology for personal use," explained the curator. "We are discussing with the industry to solve the problem (of the many porters) for other products too," he added.
However, no justification for the further development of single charger for various electronic products for personal consumption now because it would have "a considerable delay" in their marketing to the complexity of creating a single charger for products of different size and different capacity battery required. "The security problem would occur. But we're working on it and hope that a solution will be found," he added further.
"It may be that this initiative can be undertaken by other sectors of the industry but we have no visibility of that in this moment," said Cosgrave.