BRUSSELS (Reuters) – In a world first, EU countries and lawmakers agreed on Tuesday to a single mobile charging port for phones, tablets, and cameras. This means that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) will have to change the connector on iPhones sold in Europe by 2024.
The European Commission said that the government’s help would make life easier for consumers and save them money. The government stepped in because companies couldn’t agree on a solution.
Brussels has been trying to get a single charging port for mobile phones for more than a decade. This is because iPhone and Android users complained about having to use different chargers for their devices.
The Lightning cable is used to charge an iPhone, while Android phones use USB-C connectors.
A 2019 Commission study found that half of the chargers that came with cell phones in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had a USB-C connector and 21% had a Lightning connector.
“By autumn 2024, all mobile phones, tablets, and cameras in the EU will have USB Type-C charging ports,“ the European Parliament said in a statement.
Thierry Breton, who is in charge of industry for the EU, said that the deal would save consumers about 250 million euros ($267 million).
“It will also make it possible for new technologies like wireless charging to develop and grow,” he said. “Innovation won’t be a source of market fragmentation or consumer hassle.”
Apple has said that the proposal would hurt innovation and create a lot of electronic waste, but when asked for a comment, it did not respond right away.
“We are proud that laptops, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, computer mice, and portable navigation devices are also included,” said lawmaker Alex Agius Saliba, who led the debate in parliament.
After the law goes into effect, laptops will have to be in line with it within 40 months. In the future, the EU executive will be able to make sure that all wireless charging systems are the same.
The fact that the deal includes e-readers, earbuds, and other technologies will affect Samsung (KS:005930), Huawei, and other device makers.
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