14 DAY TRIAL // The European Union has recently passed new regulation that requires device makers selling phones and tablets in Europe to equip them with USB-C ports.
While most Android device manufacturers already feature such a port, the one that’s hit the hardest is none other than Apple, as the Cupertino-based company has been insisting on its proprietary Lightning port for quite some time.
But following the new regulations, Apple will have no other option than to give up on Lightning and go for USB-C.
Apple’s senior VP of worldwide marketing, Greg Joswiak, recently confirmed in an interview with The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern that switching to USB-C is pretty much the only option.
“Obviously, we’ll have to comply; we have no choice,” he said.
According to the new directive, companies will have to provide customers with the option of choosing between purchasing a product with or without a charger.
“The directive also allows consumers to choose whether to purchase a new device with or without a charger. This will not only save consumers money, but will also reduce the electronic waste associated with the production, transportation and disposal of chargers. Four years after the directive enters into force, the Commission will assess whether this unbundling of sales should be made mandatory,” the European Union announced.
At the same time, the European authorities will continue to push for wireless charging, which is the next big step in an attempt to reduce electronic waste. At this point, the EU estimates that chargers generate 11,000 tones of e-waste every year.
“Although becoming more popular, wireless charging has not yet been harmonised across devices. To enable this technology to become available for more devices, the Commission will work on harmonising wireless charging for electronic devices and on interoperability based on technological developments,” the European Union said.