European Parliament backs common mobile phone charger

• Consumers in the 28-nation EU may soon benefit from a standardized charger and socket for their mobile devices. 
• Compliance among manufacturers by 2017 will be required in a draft law passed by the European Parliament.
• The European Parliament on Thursday approved by 550 votes to 12 an amendment to the bloc's radio equipment law.
• That paves the way for a common charger for mobile devices to be made available to consumers by 2017.
• The introduction of a common charger will serve the interests of both consumers and the environment. 
• It will help to put an end to charger clutter and would reduce 51000 tonnes of electronic waste annually.
• European countries will have two years to transpose the rules into their national laws and manufacturers will have an additional year to comply. 
• Negotiations with manufacturers to agree a common charger was started in 2009. 
• It was expected that the universal charging configuration would come into force by 2017.
• As per the Expert estimation there are some 30 different types of charger currently in the market. Phone makers such as Apple, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and ALCATEL have all signed an agreement to make their phones compatible with a single, USB style charger.