The world's leading mobile phone companies have signed an agreement with the European Commission to replace all mobile phone chargers with one type.
The chargers will be compatible with any mobile phone, putting an end to cupboards full of old chargers for different models and brands.
The voluntary commitment has been backed by 10 companies; Apple, Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, NEC, Research in Motion, Samsung and LG and will come into force next year.
EU Industry Commissioner Gunter Verheugen said: "I am very pleased that industry has found an agreement which will make life simpler for consumers."
The EU had threatened companies with legislation if they could not come to an agreement about one phone charger for all mobile phones.
In the end the two parties have reached a "Memorandum of Understanding", meaning that "inter-chargeable" mobile phones will hit the market in 2010.
It is thought that reducing the different types of chargers will cut associated electronic waste, currently amounting to thousands of tonnes a year, as well as improving energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
