90 million handsets unused in UK

I have just posted something over on my personal blog about the fact that Mobile phone giants to make European one-size-fits-all charger from 2010 which in itself is a good thing! Over the years I have accumulated so many mobile phone chargers it isn’t funny. Every time I had a new phone (and I have had a lot) I used to get at least three chargers …. one for the office, one for home and one for travel.

Now I was ‘fortunate’ enough to have the very first mobile phone back in 1987, although to call it mobile is stretching it a bit lot to be honest! A combination of been a gadget junkie, in the technilogy industry, and later on in my working career in the position to determine which phones may different companies should have I was changing my mobile phones at an alarming rate. Off the top of my head I reckon that I have owned at least 30 phones over the years. That makes it around 90 chargers!!!

I recently wrote about our de cluttering project which is certainly unearthing more than a few chargers! and while I was back in the UK recently I went through an old drawer at home and must have got rid of 6 chargers at least!

Anyway in the article apart from the amzing fact in the headline (I have 6 handsets still that I don’t use) there were some other reallt interesting facts:

• 1973 The year of the first mobile telephone call
• 400 million active mobile phones in Europe
• 72 million active mobile phones in Britain
• 40 million pay-as-you-go phones in Britain
• 1,712 phones are replaced every minute

The need for different chargers has always bugged me, especally when a manufacturer makes different charges for different phones! Of course it has been a great money spinner for them so why the change of heart?

Though the universal charger will be welcomed by consumers as more convenient, the urgency behind the agreement came from the belief that it will also have a positive impact on the environment.

Yep, nothing to do with putting the consumer first and recognising that they have been ripping us off for ages!

On a slightly related note though, is good to see that Vodafone have dropped roaming charges this summer ….. oh hang on, hardly anyone is traveling abroad on holiday this year are they so they aren’t exactly taking a huge hit in the pocket LOL

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