A GANG OF 17 leading phone companies have agreed to use the same sort of mobile phone charger.

In a victory for common sense, the deal could eliminate up to 51,000 tonnes of duplicate chargers.

The universal charging connector will be based on micro-USB, and the majority of new chargers will meet the high-efficiency targets set out by the Open Mobile Terminal Platform. By 1 January 2012 it is expected that the majority of new mobile phones will support the move.

"The mobile industry has a pivotal role to play in tackling environmental issues and this programme is an important step that could lead to huge savings in resources, not to mention convenience for consumers," said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSM Association.

According to the organisation, a universal charger will make life much simpler for the consumer, who will be able to use the same charger for future handsets, as well as being able to charge their mobile phone anywhere from any available charger.

The approved chargers will include a 4-star or higher efficiency rating, which is up to three times more energy-efficient than an unrated charger, the oufit claims.

The move could half the number of phone chargers made, reducing greenhouse gases in manufacturing and transporting replacement chargers by 13.6 to 21.8 million tonnes a year according to estimates.

The initial group of companies that have joined the UCS initiative include 3 Group, AT&T, KTF, LG, Mobilkom Austria, Motorola, Nokia, Orange, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

Noticeably absent from the list are Apple and HTC, although HTC currently uses mini-USB for device charging and connectivity. Apple is probably totting up how much the move could cost it in lost replacement charger sales.

European Commissioner Gunther Verheugen had earlier thrown his phone out of his pram over the lack of charger standardisation.

Verheugen was hoping that the phone makers might voluntarily adapt to a universal plug standard but he wagged his finger menacingly and warned of "severe measures" if they didn't. µ