This isn’t much of a diary entry, but in case you’ve missed it – there has not been much attention in the MSM – charger madness is coming to an end.
Follow below:::
Universal phone charger standard approved
Geneva, 22 October 2009 — ITU has given its stamp of approval to an energy-efficient one-charger-fits-all new mobile phone solution. The announcement comes as ITU lobbies hard to have the essential role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) recognized in the draft Copenhagen Agreement as a key part of the solution towards mitigating climate change.
Every mobile phone user will benefit from the new Universal Charging Solution (UCS), which enables the same charger to be used for all future handsets, regardless of make and model. In addition to dramatically cutting the number of chargers produced, shipped and subsequently discarded as new models become available, the new standard will mean users worldwide will be able to charge their mobiles anywhere from any available charger, while also reducing the energy consumed while charging.
The new UCS standard was based on input from the GSMA, which predicts a 50 per cent reduction in standby energy consumption, elimination of 51,000 tonnes of redundant chargers, and a subsequent reduction of 13.6 million tonnes in gas emissions each year.
Although use of the new standard is not required of anyone, all the major mobile phone manufacturers have acceded to the standard. Starting next year, phones will be manufactured accordingly. Considering the annual global sales of 180 million cell phones needing chargers, this is not a day too soon.
The news of this fortunate development first surfaced at the Mobile World Congress 2009 which took place last February in Barcelona.
Initial adopters 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.
And now, the standard is approved!
What a blessing!
Its good to see something positive is being done on an international scale.
We try to pass our old phones and chargers along to a local womens’ shelter, where they pass them out to residents so they can have a way to call 911 emergency if needed. There are many similar programs around the country.
Hi hip hooray! Finally something the world leaders at the UN can agree on – and me too! I’ve been ragging about this for years.
Hopefully, all those manufacturers comply. Truly good news – thanks for letting us know, Ask :).
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HP breaking green promises – no more excuses!
Still a lot of work needs to be done!Countdown clock
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Excellent action!
(folks, click on the picture above – I initially missed the hidden link.)
OMG, I can’t tell you how annoying it has been to have all different chargers for all our phones…and why doesn’t Samsung (or any other manufacturer) at least use the same chargers for their entire phone line?
finally the governing bodies begin to catch up to reality.
now, closer to home, we need to insure that the FCC continues to move forward with their net neutrality proposals: FCC votes to begin crafting ‘net neutrality’ rules.
there’re lots of folks already forming a line to oppose them, including AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp. but some very serious, very big players like Google, Amazon.com Inc., eBay Inc.’s Skype and Facebook Inc. [who] argue that without such rules, the broadband companies will become online gatekeepers that can prioritize their own online services or those of their business partners–and potentially put others at a disadvantage.
of course, the party of *gNOp, led by the mangy maverick, john mcstain, wasted no time in introducing legislation that would block the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from creating new net neutrality rules, on the same day that the FCC took the first step toward doing so.
when are the dems finally going to tell the RATs to sit down, and STFU?
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NEW YORK (AFP) – From Asia to the Americas via Europe and the Middle East, activists around the planet have protested in an effort to mobilize public opinion against global warming 50 days ahead of a crucial UN climate summit.
Many of the thousands that gathered on the steps of Sydney’s iconic Opera House to kick off the event waved placards bearing the logo 350, a figure scientists believe is the maximum parts per million of CO2 that the atmosphere can bear to avoid runaway global warming.
Climate activists form the number '350', representing the atmosphericcarbon target of a cut to 350 parts per million. (AFP)
In New York’s Times Square, a crowd of demonstrators gathered as giant screens beamed in images from around the world. Organizers told the activists that events had taken place in “more than 180 countries” at 5,200 events.
In France, politicians received a “wake up” call from several hundred Parisians who chose clocks as their symbol.
Germany: So Long, EU Carbon Tariffs
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."It’s about time! I’ve got a drawer full.