Apple signs up to EU connection plan
APPLE is a surprise signatory to Europe's cunning plan to make high-end phone connections more uniform.
The European Commission wants phone makers to start flogging phones which connect to universal chargers using micro-USB connections from next year.
While most of the big phone company makers thought this was a good idea when it was mooted, Apple had remained aloof. Apple, along with some other manufacturers, was concerned that if there was a universal charger it would make it easier for customers to switch phones to a rival's.
Apple uses its own Dock Connector for the Iphone and has licensed the connector technology to accessory makers. It would mean that thousands of third party products that use the the fruity connector would have to be rebuilt if they were to use the standard.
Of course Iphone customers that want their device to use the same connector as everyone else will have to stump up for a new machine, something we are sure that Apple didn't think of. If customers complain, Jobs' Mob could blame the EU, a precedent set by Microsoft recently over Windows 7.
In February the GSMA, a trade association for mobile carriers using GSM technology brokered a deal with handset makers to get the micro-USB technology into mobile phone chargers by 2012. And the CTIA, the US wireless trade association, backed the standard in April of this year.
The EU has brought that deadlne forward to 2010, although it will apply only to data-enabled smartphones and higher end feature phones.
Nokia already uses micro-USBs on its phone, and Research In Motion has done since the launch of the BlackBerry Storm last year. So Apple will join LG, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson in agreeing to the new standard. µ
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that this sensible EU (never thought we would use those in combination) idea comes to fruition. Would be good if the manufacturers applied it across the global markets.
Does the EU plan require the connector on the unit itself or could an adaptor do the job?
I'm not convinced Apple won't just bung a converter from mini-USB to dock connector in the box with their phones. That saves them having to build a different model for Europe (assuming that they don't want to adopt this worldwide).
What is surprising about apple joining it? If there is going to be a standard, they want to have a say and be able to influence decisions, so that the final decision is inline with their current technologies...
Consider this: Apple's current charger is in fact a USB unit. Communication with a PC/Mac is via USB protocols already. All they need to do is change the cable and add a micro USB socket to the iPhone to meet the requirement. They don't even have to ditch the Apple dock connector, just add the micro USB at the other end or on the side of the phone, thus preserving the dock infrastructure.
As to the idea that chargers are what prevents people from changing phone models, this is quite laughable. Firstly each phone comes with it's own charger anyway. Secondly even phones from the same manufacturer use different chargers (I've been through numerous Nokia phones, and I don't think any two have used the same voltage and connector) and finally have you ever seen sales materials pushing this as a selling point? If people wanted this do you not think it would be marketed prominently?
"Of course Iphone customers that want their device to use the same connector as everyone else will have to stump up for a new machine, something we are sure that Apple didn't think of."
Um... adapter?
The current dock connector cable has a standard usb port on the other end. All they would need to do is swap that usb port for a female micro-usb port. Is that so hard? Hell, they could even charge £30 for it, which I'm sure they will do.
Did you really think Apple signed that agreement *without thinking about how they would implement the port into their product* ?
And did you also really think that they would build an entirely new phone, just to accomodate the port?
It's obvious they would go for a dock connector-to-micro usb adapter. Everything goes through that ruddy dock connector, including video out. It's proprietory, so they can charge whenever someone wants to make compatible accessories, and it means they get to control what does and doesn't work with it.
So I don't think we'll be seeing a brand new phone sporting a micro-usb port just yet.
Apple uses its own Dock Connector for the Iphone and has licensed the connector technology to accessory makers. It would mean that thousands of third party products that use the the fruity connector would have to be rebuilt if they were to use the standard.
Does it necessarily mean that? Can't the iPhone have both a MicroUSB and a Dock connector at the same time? After all the Dock is heavily based on USB anyway.
Of course Iphone customers that want their device to use the same connector as everyone else will have to stump up for a new machine, something we are sure that Apple didn't think of. If customers complain, Jobs' Mob could blame the EU, a precedent set by Microsoft recently over Windows 7.
I don't think that will be a big issue. Contract users will be upgrading their phones every 18-24 months or so anyway and it will probably take more than 2 years for USB charging to be ubiquitous. For PAYG users or folks who are too fond of their old iPhones to upgrade there's always adaptors, after all the Dock includes a full USB implementation.
Nokia already uses micro-USBs on its phone and Apple will join LG, Motorola, Research In Motion, Samsung and Sony Ericsson in agreeing to the new standard.
Nokia do use microUSB, yes, but only for data. You can't charge a Nokia phone through its USB connector. At least you can't charge the N95 or the N96 through the connector.
The now quite old RAZR from Motorola, however, can charge through USB. So if you've got one of those you'll be able to get a new charger for years to come.