A while back I wrote about how there would be universal chargers at sometime.  In Europe, it is now to become reality. 

The European Commission and several leading cell phone manufacturers agreed Monday to back a mini-USB standard for cell phone chargers beginning next year — two years ahead of schedule. A universal charger standard would have several advantages, not the least of which means that consumers won’t bear the additional expenses of purchasing new chargers for future generations of phones.

And while in America…  (sound of crickets chirping).  That is right, nothing is happening yet.  Actually, the major handset makers agreed to 2012.  Most noticiably absent from the American agreement is Apple – though Apple did agree with the European Union to go to mini-USB (note, not the micro-USB that will be used in the US).  Will Apple go along with the US phone makers on the universal cell phone charger?  Will the US convert earlier as well or will we lag behind Europe? Will they only do mini-USB?  Since the manufacturers are going mini- in Europe, will the micro become the mini?  They are different – or will everyone once again not agree?

Mark Viquesney