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Micro-USB picked as universal mobile handset charging port

IT Industry - Market

While most of the big names in mobile phones such as LG, Nokia, RIM (BlackBerry), Samsung, and Sony Ericsson are members of the GSMA, there are some exceptions.

The world's second or third largest (depending on whose figures you trust) smartphone vendor - Apple - is not a member of the association. Gartner's even suggested that Apple could take 40 percent of the global smartphone market by 2013.

The iPhone - like the iPod - uses the 30-pin dock connector, and that's not likely to change since it is used to carry multiple signals including AV output.

But as Apple currently provides a dock to USB cable, it could easily offer (or even include) a USB to Micro-USB adaptor, allowing the use of a UCS charger.

Another company missing from the membership list on the GSMA's web site is Taiwan-based HTC, which produces smartphones under its own name and for other brands.

Still, it seems likely that regular mobile handsets will continue to dominate for several years, so it is quite possible that the majority of new phones will handle Micro-USB charging from 2012, even if those two vendors don't play along.

In any case, there's no suggestion in the GSMA's announcement that there is a licensing program associated with the plan, so presumably other manufacturers are free to follow suit.

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