Just Jack

As reported in several places, the Open Mobile Terminal Platform have announced plans for a standardised connector for mobile phone charging and syncing.

With UK consumers changing their handset on average twice a year … there are literally hundreds of millions of chargers and data cables in circulation. On top of that, there a huge number of different peripherals such as headsets for voice calls, car kits, data cables, etc. many with different physical connectors. This fragmentation creates unnecessary cost for the whole value chain, creates clutter and limits the freedom of selection for end user, and restricts competition by creating barriers of market entry.

The OMTP’s paper recommends that the micro USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard is used across mobile devices. USB is the de facto standard for the PC industry and it is a technology understood by consumers. Reaching mobile industry agreement on USB will help streamline the whole value chain and provide end users with a larger choice of the most popular peripherals. The customer will also be able to use their legacy home entertainment and PC equipment, as well as creating a new market opportunity for peripheral vendors.

Good news, lets hope adoption is swift.

Love Google.

Great ad.

Protect my freedom by taking away my freedom.

Great UK geocoder.

Ben informed me of this at The Register.

The company has now admitted that this change to its billing is significant and therefore enables customers to get out of their existing contracts.

Customers … have one month from the receipt of that message to get in touch with O2 if they want to cancel their contract. O2 has told us that such requests will be honoured, but only if received before the end of September.

Update: I just called 02 and they confirmed that if I ended my contract I would be able to keep the handset free of charge. I’m thinking close the contract and get my hands on some sim only goodness.