UN body approves universal cell phone charger
Manufacturers won't legally be required to use the new standard
GENEVA - The U.N. telecoms agency said Friday it has approved technology for a universal cell phone charger that aims to reduce the confusion, clutter and waste caused by today's proliferation of devices.
The new chargers will use a micro-USB plug, similar to that used for digital cameras, to enter the cell phone for charging, said Sarah Parkes, spokeswoman for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The United Nations is weighing in on cell phone charger standards?? Great, but don't they have more weighty issues to solve like nuclear proliferation and world hunger?? Just asking.
Moderator: Travel Technology, Travel Photography and JetBlue
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 29,448
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbstone
The United Nations is weighing in on cell phone charger standards?? Great, but don't they have more weighty issues to solve like nuclear proliferation and world hunger?? Just asking.
It is the UN. They don't really do all that much useful except for bring lots of cool airplanes to NYC every year in September for the General Assembly. Seriously, the collection of planes that shows up is awesome. IL-62s, 747SP and 727-100s!
The United Nations is weighing in on cell phone charger standards?? Great, but don't they have more weighty issues to solve like nuclear proliferation and world hunger?? Just asking.
The UN does all sorts of things. Specifically, this cellphone charger thing was an output of the ITU, the International Telecommunications Union, which is a semi-independent agency chartered by the UN.
The ITU are also the folks that allow your multi-band cellphone to roam around the world, maintain a single number space for international phone numbers, maintain and publish the standards that allow fax machines in every country to talk to one another, and so on.
Imagine a world where you needed a different cellphone in every country you traveled to. Or where there wasn't some standardized way to write an int'l phone number, such that you couldn't dial directly from one country to another without involving the operator. Or, where you couldn't send a fax to someone in another country because the fax machines were incompatible.
These sort of things are clearly are global in nature. Although they may not rise the the same stature of nuclear proliferation or world hunger, on a practical, day-to-day basis, they might actually be more important to the way the world works. It's a very natural role for the UN to be involved in such things.
Location: Somewhere near DCA. NW Platinum. AA Platinum.
Posts: 11,264
Quote:
Originally Posted by allset2travel
Swell!
Now we have one MORE charger to worry about. (assumed some one will manufacture it)
Why would you have to worry about one more charger? What In the long run, having a universal charger will be better as there will be fewer chargers bought and discarded.
__________________
Those who sacrifice liberty of some to purchase a little temporary safety, will have neither liberty nor safety.
Location: Somewhere near DCA. NW Platinum. AA Platinum.
Posts: 11,264
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve M
The UN does all sorts of things. Specifically, this cellphone charger thing was an output of the ITU, the International Telecommunications Union, which is a semi-independent agency chartered by the UN.
The ITU are also the folks that allow your multi-band cellphone to roam around the world, maintain a single number space for international phone numbers, maintain and publish the standards that allow fax machines in every country to talk to one another, and so on.
Imagine a world where you needed a different cellphone in every country you traveled to. Or where there wasn't some standardized way to write an int'l phone number, such that you couldn't dial directly from one country to another without involving the operator. Or, where you couldn't send a fax to someone in another country because the fax machines were incompatible.
These sort of things are clearly are global in nature. Although they may not rise the the same stature of nuclear proliferation or world hunger, on a practical, day-to-day basis, they might actually be more important to the way the world works. It's a very natural role for the UN to be involved in such things.
Like UPU (Union Postale Universale) ITU has enabled communication around the world. While the primary mission of UPU has hardly changed, ITU is an organisation that has evolved with time and technology. They were both founded prior to the U.N., but are now agencies of the U.N. Some people are allergic to the U.N. name. Put two letters "U.N." in front of an organisation, you have lost about "thirty four percent" the support in the U.S. just due to the two letter.
__________________
Those who sacrifice liberty of some to purchase a little temporary safety, will have neither liberty nor safety.
