From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7894763.stm
		
Universal charger for phones plan  
 
There are dozens of different cable chargers for phones 
The world's biggest mobile phone makers and network operators have
backed plans to create a universal phone recharger. 

Most manufacturers now produce chargers which work only with their own
devices. 

The re-charger will consume 50% less stand-by energy than today's
cables, the GSM Association (GSMA), an umbrella group for the industry,
said. 

Firms to back the plan include Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson,
LG, T-Mobile, Orange, 3, AT&T and Vodafone. 

The majority of new handsets will support the re-charger by 2012. 

"This is a broad agreement that will move the industry to a single,
energy-efficient charger for all mobile phones," said Michael O'Hara,
marketing director for the GSMA. 

In a statement, Mitti Storckovius, director of environment, devices at
Nokia said: "By supporting this industry initiative on common charging
solutions, and enabling consumers to choose if they need a charger with
every new device or can re-use existing ones, we can contribute further
in improving the industry's environmental footprint." 

The micro-USB connector will be used as the common charging interface. 

Manufacturers had been under pressure from the European Commission to
produce a standardised charger. 

EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen told German radio station
Deutsche Welle last week that there were more than 30 different kinds of
charger in use across the 27-nation European Union. 

The GSMA estimates the new charger will mean the potential elimination
of up to 51,000 tonnes of duplicate chargers.