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lhsi [soylentnews.org] writes:

Members of the European Parliament have backed a regulation for all smartphone devices to use a standardised charger [bbc.co.uk], a Micro USB connector being the favoured type (and one that is in use already).

The regulation is still only a draft law and must be approved by Europe's council of ministers. However, that body has already given its informal backing to the law, suggesting it will win final approval.

European member states will have until 2016 to translate the regulation into national laws and manufacturers will then have 12 months to switch to the new design

The reason for this regulation is both to help consumers and to cut down on electronic waste (51,000 tonnes annually) [europa.eu].

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