As Apple plots to drop iPhone ports, Europe plans law to give all phones same charger

mood · Jan 14, 2020

As Apple plots to drop iPhone ports, Europe plans law to give all phones same charger
European lawmakers consider legislation that could be irrelevant by the time it arrives
January 14, 2020
https://www.zdnet.com/article/as-ap...eu-plans-law-to-give-all-phones-same-charger/

European lawmakers want to require smartphone manufacturers to provide a common charger for all mobile phones.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Monday discussed the idea of introducing "binding measures" that would require chargers that fit all mobile phones and portable electronic devices.

The EU introduced the voluntary Radio Equipment Directive in 2014, but MEPs believe the effort fell short of the objectives.

"The voluntary agreements between different industry players have not yielded the desired results," MEPs said.
The proposed more stringent measures are aimed at reducing electronic waste, which is estimated to amount to 51,000 tonnes per year in old chargers.
Click to expand...

Apple last year argued that regulations to standardize chargers for phones would "freeze innovation rather than encourage it" and it claimed the proposal was "bad for the environment and unnecessarily disruptive for customers".
Click to expand...

mood · Jan 17, 2020

The EU wants to force all smartphone manufacturers to adopt USB-C
January 16, 2020
https://9to5google.com/2020/01/16/eu-usb-c/

Despite slowly becoming the de facto standard for most Android smartphones, the EU wants manufacturers to adopt the same standard across the industry. Discussions have started on a series of “binding measures” that would mean no matter the OEM or price-point, USB-C will be utilized (via ZDNet).

USB-C is now ubiquitous across the industry, but there are still many affordable smartphones that have stuck with micro-USB — the recent Nokia 2.1 and 2.2 being prime examples. This is usually a cost reduction measure [...]
While this doesn’t affect any of the flagship Android smartphones, it will be most beneficial to those who pick up affordable smartphones and those with iPhones.

Rumors are rife that Apple is set to introduce USB-C compatible iPhones in 2021, but this would shake up the entire space — although we could see portless Apple devices in future.
Click to expand...

Having one cable standard that works with every smartphone in a household would likely be a massive bonus for those in multi-device homes. Plus, this war on ports means borrowing a cable from a friend or workmate could eventually be that bit easier. The death of micro-USB on smartphones, tablets, and more cannot come soon enough.
Click to expand...

mood · Jan 23, 2020

Apple pushes back against EU common charger, warns of innovation risks
January 23, 2020
https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-e...arger-warns-of-innovation-risks-idUKKBN1ZM2EV

iPhone maker Apple on Thursday pushed back against EU lawmakers’ call for a common charger, warning the move could hamper innovation, create a mountain of electronic waste and irk consumers.

Apple’s comments came a week after lawmakers at the European Parliament called for a common charger for all mobile phones and amended a draft law to say the ability to work with common chargers would be an essential requirement for radio equipment in the bloc.

“We believe regulation that forces conformity across the type of connector built into all smartphones stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, and would harm consumers in Europe and the economy as a whole,” Apple said in a statement.
It said regulation was not needed as the industry is already moving to USB-C through a connector or cable assembly.
Click to expand...

hawki · Jan 24, 2020

"Apple's dedication to 'a diversity of dongles' is polluting the planet...

About 50m metric tons of e-waste are generated annually. But Apple says efforts to regulate mobile devices to reduce waste stifle ‘innovation’..."

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/24/apple-dongles-eu-electronic-waste-pollution

mood · Jan 30, 2020

EU lawmakers, with eye on Apple, call for common mobile charger
January 30, 2020
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-e...-call-for-common-mobile-charger-idUKKBN1ZT1W4

EU lawmakers overwhelmingly called on Thursday for rules to establish a common charger for all mobile device makers across Europe, a drive that iPhone maker Apple (AAPL.O) has criticised.

Members of the European Parliament voted by 582-40 for a resolution urging the European Commission, which drafts EU laws, to ensure that EU consumers are no longer obliged to buy new chargers with each new device.
The Commission should adopt new rules by July, the lawmakers’ resolution said.

A move to a common charger would affect Apple more than any other company as iPhones and most of its mobile products are powered by its Lightning cable, whereas Android devices are powered by USB-C connectors.
The European Commission, which acts as the executive for the EU, has been pushing for a common charger for more than a decade.
Click to expand...

However, Commission officials say the voluntary approach is not working and the EU executive is now looking into legislation and has included the common charger as one of the set of actions it plans for this year.
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

As Apple plots to drop iPhone ports, Europe plans law to give all phones same charger

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

hawki Registered Member

mood Updates Team

Apple plans to sell Macs with its own chips from 2021: Bloomberg

France hits Apple with $27M fine for slowing down old iPhones

Apple is replacing some iPhone battery cases for free because of charging problems

Apple AirPods: iPhone Accessory Or The Next Big Thing?

Apple, Samsung Phones Make Up Almost All Carrier Store Sales: Analyst

Log in or Sign up

As Apple plots to drop iPhone ports, Europe plans law to give all phones same charger

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

hawki Registered Member

mood Updates Team

Apple plans to sell Macs with its own chips from 2021: Bloomberg

France hits Apple with $27M fine for slowing down old iPhones

Apple is replacing some iPhone battery cases for free because of charging problems

Apple AirPods: iPhone Accessory Or The Next Big Thing?

Apple, Samsung Phones Make Up Almost All Carrier Store Sales: Analyst

Useful Searches