The board of the wireless industry group CTIA this week voted to support broad adoption of two interfaces for connecting peripherals to mobile phones: Micro-USB and the 3.5mm ?mini plug? headphone jack.
The governing body, which includes representatives of Nokia, Motorola and Samsung as well as the four biggest mobile operators in the U.S. and other companies around the world, voted unanimously in favor of using the interfaces in future handsets, said Michael Altschul, CTIA?s senior vice president and general counsel.
Consumers have been frustrated at having to buy new peripherals such as car chargers and headsets every time they buy a new phone, sometimes even when staying within the same line of phones, Altschul said. Phone manufacturers have used a variety of interfaces for charging, data transfer and audio input and output. But in addition to consumer irritation, mobile operators and retailers don?t want to have to stock different accessories for every type of phone they sell for several years after it?s released, Altschul said.
The governing body, which includes representatives of Nokia, Motorola and Samsung as well as the four biggest mobile operators in the U.S. and other companies around the world, voted unanimously in favor of using the interfaces in future handsets, said Michael Altschul, CTIA?s senior vice president and general counsel.
Consumers have been frustrated at having to buy new peripherals such as car chargers and headsets every time they buy a new phone, sometimes even when staying within the same line of phones, Altschul said. Phone manufacturers have used a variety of interfaces for charging, data transfer and audio input and output. But in addition to consumer irritation, mobile operators and retailers don?t want to have to stock different accessories for every type of phone they sell for several years after it?s released, Altschul said.
