Europe pushing to standardize cell phone chargers

If there's one topic that aggravates every gadget user it's the fact that virtually every device they own requires its own power adapter, each with a different connector. Nowhere is this more baffling and annoying than in the world of cell phones, where the devices' similar size and power requirements should have led to the creation of a standard charging format years ago.

For a while, it looked like we had one: USB, which is not only compact but offers a convenient additional way to charge phones via a connection to a computer.  USB is also a standard for storage devices, cameras, and other gizmos already, so it would make sense for phone makers to adopt it. Alas, while some have, a dozen power connector formats still proliferate in the cell phone market -- and even USB now comes in several different mini and micro connector formats. Sigh.

At least one legislative body is fed up with it all and wants to do something about it soon. The European Union's Commissioner for Industry, Günter Verheugen, says he's tired of the carrot method of getting manufacturers to agree on a standard connector format and is now about to turn to the stick to get the job done. According to translated reports, Verheugen is now considering "severe measures" to get the job done.

For Verheugen, the issue is not one of convenience and clutter but one of waste: Every cell phone comes with a power charger that has to be recycled or trashed when the phone reaches the end of its life. With a single charger format, phones could be actually sold without chargers -- since the charger for the previous generation of phone would still work on the new handset. Consumers would possibly save a few bucks when they bought a new phone, too, and if the charger went missing, the standardized format would mean you'd be able to find a replacement on any street corner.

Sanctions and regulations compelling a standard format may yet be years away, however, as Verheugen is still reportedly hoping to get manufacturers to come to a voluntary solution. Yeah, good luck with that.