Phone manufacturers across the world use different charger connections and are so diluted that even the same size tip won’t charge every phone there is. That’s why the European Union is proposing a standard for all manufacturers to use: Micro-USB.

Interestingly enough, Apple was one of the top 10 Smartphone manufacturers to back the new universal standard which would obsolete almost every made for iPhone accessory that utilizes the widely adopted 30-pin USB adapter. While the EU calls for a USB based charging standard for all phones, Apple will still have to physically changes to iPhones it sells in Europe over phones sold in other countries. While Apple is no stranger to forcing users to upgrade their accessories when a newer model iPod or iPhone is made available, it is unknown just when the Cupertino based company will bring Micro-USB to the iPhone.

The chargers will be usable only for data-enabled phones, which have more capability than just standard calls and SMS texts. Data-enabled phones are expected to account for almost half of all new mobile handset purchases in 2010.

The Commission hopes that as people discard their old handsets, within three to four years all data-enabled phones in Europe will be using standardized chargers.

Via: Macworld