Swiss government wants universal charger for Smartphones in 2017

[CaptainGazzz]

Bern, 25.11.2015 - From summer 2017, all mobile telephones sold on the Swiss market will be compatible with a universal charger. The Federal Council today accepted the revision of two ordinances on telecommunications and electrical equipment. It is a question of harmonising the technical requirements in Switzerland with those of the European Union.

The OTI will enter into force on 13 June 2016. It provides for a one one-year transitional period to enable the market to adapt to the new rules. As for the amendment to the OEMC, this will enter into force on 20 April 2016. These two dates correspond to those fixed for the amendments to the corresponding legislation of the EU Member States.

 

I hope the rest of the world will follow soon! This is great, now when I go to my friends, they always have a charger for me.

There only needs to be a law that allows the industry to move to a better charger when available. The only danger is the fact that the entire industry can gat stuck on a certain charger when its has become redundant because of new tech.

I hope the standard will become USB type C.

 

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[elfensky]

To be honest, android's kind of already did this with micro usb, switching to type c in the coming years... It's frankly only Apple that needs to adapt. I still don't really understand how they got around the EU law that requires phones to be able to charge using micro usb (or some other similar law). Or is it that this law is only now getting implemented?

Don't get my wrong, after trying them, I really like the lightning connector, but when  nothing except one type of device uses it, it seems wasteful.

[theereal]

Android already does this, Apple just wants to make more money off their own chargers. And anyone who buys and Apple product Is dumb and should have money taken out of their wallet. For anyone with aspergers out there, this was a shot joke at Apple

[CaptainGazzz]

To be honest, android's kind of already did this with micro usb, switching to type c in the coming years... It's frankly only Apple that needs to adapt.

True, but the industry could be forced to adapt to type c faster with such a law.

[Notional]

I'm sure Schwitzerland will adopt the standard dictated by EU. Afaik, the EU standardization is set by the industry themselves, so they can go to USB-C. After all, it's just a replacable USB cable, so as long as the little charger just has a standard USB port, it should be all good.

[Naeaes]

To be honest, android's kind of already did this with micro usb, switching to type c in the coming years... It's frankly only Apple that needs to adapt. I still don't really understand how they got around the EU law that requires phones to be able to charge using micro usb (or some other similar law). Or is it that this law is only now getting implemented?

Don't get my wrong, after trying them, I really like the lightning connector, but when  nothing except one type of device uses it, it seems wasteful.

The thing with the micro-USB ins't in effect yet. The device makers have just been proactive about it. Technically EU doesn't make laws, instead they require the member states to make their own. This is why they have to give plenty of time for the laws to be implemented. The directive about micro-USB won't come in effect until 2017. And now with type-C coming, it might be amended altogether. So, currently Apple isn't breaking any laws (regarding this particular issue) unless if some country has already made the thing into a law already. Even after that, Apple will likely just include their adapter in the box with the phones.

[dalekphalm]

This could have really bad implications. What if the industry doesn't respond fast enough? Who makes the call to decide which new connector to implement? What if a superior-in-every-way connector is invented, but not adopted by the EU? *Cough* HDMI on TV's even though DP is better *cough*

 

As much as I'm not a big Apple Fan, the Lightning connector is awesome. It's just a tad expensive - though if everyone and their mother used Lightning, I bet the costs would come down at least some.

 

My major fear is that this will actually cause stagnation. We might end up being stuck on USB 3.0/3.1 C for years or decades because no one wants to invest in a connector that has no guarantee of even being allowed to be used on a phone.

 

It might also give the USB consortium a defacto monopoly, if they are the ones who "decide" (Granted, they pretty much already have one, but as it stands right now, new and innovative connectors (eg: Lightning) are still able to come out).

[qwertywarrior]

screw smartphones what about universal laptop chargers !!!!

[christianled59]

And anyone who buys and Apple product Is dumb and should have money taken out of their wallet.

That's fucking retarded. Bias much? I don't like Apple or their marketing strategies either, but granted, they still have some very quality products. To classify anyone who buys from Apple to be "dumb" only makes you look dumb.

[captain cactus]

Apple will probably ditch the Lightning connector with the next iPhone, so we'll have USB-C on there as well. Now we need to get rid of that stupid micro-B connector that's weak as fuck boom, problem solved.

[suicidalfranco]

[Guest Kloaked]

Apple will probably ditch the Lightning connector with the next iPhone, so we'll have USB-C on there as well. Now we need to get rid of that stupid micro-B connector that's weak as fuck boom, problem solved.

 

I wouldn't expect Apple to use USB C on their phones, but strange things have happened before.

[rockking1379]

Android already does this, Apple just wants to make more money off their own chargers. And anyone who buys and Apple product Is dumb and should have money taken out of their wallet.

thanks for calling me dumb! i happen to enjoy my few apple products thanks.

[NeatSquidYT]

And anyone who buys and Apple product Is dumb and should have money taken out of their wallet.

@ShadowCaptain would like to have a word with you

[You_are_a_cunt]

Ain't gonna happen

[BuckGup]

This might actually be bad as some companies will be held back from innovating new faster connectors. AKA Intel

[Trixanity]

I assume the industry will be able to petition for changes in a standard. So that technological advances don't grind to a halt. But I also think it'll be hard to make to get such a change approved.

Edit: this is also primarily, if not only, for chargers and not other standards.

[VerticalDiscussions]

-snip-

Dumb is the one who judges technology for meaningless numbers. You pay what you get, and as far as Apple goes, its so far the best in the mobile industry. 

[Bean86]

The original phrasing seems not very accurate if it only applies to the charger or the cable/connector too.

[suicidalfranco]

Android already does this, Apple just wants to make more money off their own chargers. And anyone who buys and Apple product Is dumb and should have money taken out of their wallet.

get ready for the pitchforks and torches 

[PlayStation 2]

Android already does this, Apple just wants to make more money off their own chargers. And anyone who buys and Apple product Is dumb and should have money taken out of their wallet.

Oh please. Show me this arbitrary iPod touch replacement that has Android on it.

Oh wait, it doesn't exist? Now shut your damn mouth because your statement makes no sense.

 

Calling an entire product base "dumb" just makes you look like a fanboyish twat.

[Yummychickenblue]

screw smartphones what about universal laptop chargers !!!!

There are universal laptop chargers. Granted they'll probably kill your laptop because they have to adapt to the power requirements and computers need a very stable source of power, but they do exist.

[patrick3027]

USB type C FTW! Hopefully Apple will stop with it's Ligntning cable nonsense.

[Peepnbrick]

While it would be convenient, is this really that big of a problem? The industry, as it is, is pretty standardized in terms of phone chargers. It would be nice if they had just one charger for the 2017 generation of phones, but then what about just 3 generations later, when a newer, better connector comes out that isn't backwards compatible? Then the standardized connector has to change. Tech moves so quickly, there shouldn't be a law that sanctions a connector type - companies should be free to switch as they like. The very concept of a standard becomes meaningless when the standard changes so often, as things do with tech.

[Mew]

I'd rather have everyone use lightning cables than usb type c because with the mfi program, you know you'll get something that is guaranteed to work and is safe rather than the lottery you get with type c or the possibility of getting a cheap cable that doesn't charge as fast for micro usb.