A new rule has come into force this year to make all mobile (cell) phone manufacturers adopt the same charger, which will be micro-USB. This has angered Apple, who have enjoyed changing their charger with each release of their iPhone in order to ensure adopters have to buy new car charging kits and new spare chargers for work.
"This is an infringement of world trade laws," said Apple spokesman, Lodsz O'Mooney. "The European Union are imposing this common sense rule which will deny us a route to extra cash. We will fight this in the international courts. We must be allowed to fleece our customers."
It is likely, as the international courts are in the Hague, Europe, that their attempt will fail. Especially as most people agree that having just one charger for all phones is a great idea.
"I don't think the legislation goes far enough," said Jason Bradbury, presenter of the Gadget Show. "All portable devices should use the same charger. I've got loads of stuff at home that needs charging. SatNavs, iPads, laptops, MP3 players, phones... I have a drawer full of chargers. Some of them are probably for devices that I no longer have. When I'm desperate for a charger, it can take me twenty minutes to find the right one, especially if the jack looks similar to another. It would be great if I could just have one charger for everything."
Such a move would seriously cripple Apple's ability to sell charging devices to their consumers.
"We would strongly object to such a move," said O'Mooney. "We currently use different adapters for all our devices."
The American trade body are watching the results of the single charger debate with interest, as they too would like to move toward one charger.
"Are they trying to put us out of business?" complained O'Mooney. "This is terrible."
