Brazil wants to follow Europe in making USB-C mandatory for all new phones

[midian182]

In context: Brazil's government doesn't the best relationship with Apple, and it could get even worse if the country follows Europe in making USB-C mandatory on all mobile devices, a move at odds with Cupertino's lightning port-only iPhone design.

The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) of Brazil has launched an open public consultation on a proposal to make USB-C the required standard for all smartphones sold in the South American nation.

Earlier this month, lawmakers in the European Union finally reached an agreement requiring all new phones, tablets, and other small electronics sold in the region to use USB-C as the charging port. The EU is giving device makers until the fall of 2024 to comply with the rule, which follows over a decade of arguments pushing for a universal charging solution.

These days, of course, virtually all Android smartphones come with USB-C charging ports. But despite changing to this type of connection in its tablets, Apple's iPhones still use Lightning ports. That could change next year, though, when the first iPhone packing a USB-C port is rumored to launch.

Brazil is still only in the consultation phase in which companies and the public can share their opinions on making USB-C mandatory for smartphones. If the proposal is passed, the port will become a requirement in the country as of July 1, 2024.

Anatel notes that switching to USB-C entirely will reduce e-waste and be more convenient for consumers. But enforcing the regulation will likely bring higher costs and could stifle innovation by companies looking to develop new and improved charging standards.

It's not just Europe and Brazil going down this path. A group of Senate Democrats is urging the US Commerce Department to force smartphone makers to adopt a universal charging standard that will reduce e-waste and environmental damage.

"The EU has wisely acted in the public interest by taking on powerful technology companies over this consumer and environmental issue," the senators wrote. "The United States should do the same."

Brazil has also been battling Apple over its decision to stop bundling wall chargers with its iPhones. Cupertino was hit with a $2 million fine last year for violating consumer protection laws and failing to prove the claimed environmental benefits of dropping the charger. More recently, a Brazilian judge told Apple to compensate an iPhone customer $1,000 for not including a charger in the box.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/95120-brazil-wants-follow-europe-making-usb-c-mandatory.html

 

[Reallyhow]

In context: Brazil's government doesn't the best relationship with Apple,

 

[SirDigby]

This is kinda inconsequential if they implement it for the same timeframe as the EU are. EU is a big enough market to actually push Apple towards USB-C (A direction they were likely already going in, or next gen lightning cable with similar technology), Brazil.... not so much.

 

[TekCheck]

Lovely to see politicians being reactive, rather than proactive in making life for citizens simple.

 

[punctualturn]

This is one of the biggest joke that I have ever seen.

Apple is already moving everything to USB C and I would not be surprised they are in cahoots with these governments to give us this spectacle.

 

[redhat]

USB-C on both Side of the cable or what??

 

[NintPlayBox]

This is one of the biggest joke that I have ever seen.

Apple is already moving everything to USB C and I would not be surprised they are in cahoots with these governments to give us this spectacle.

Haven't you stopped to think for a second that perhaps the reason Apple is moving to USB C is because the European Commission warned them way ahead of time about this precedent before they made it public to the masses, and not because Apple had a change of heart on feeding people their own proprietary cables?

Just food for thought

 

[Mr Majestyk]

I didn't realise Brazil had phone manufacturers! What an absurd article, Brazil imports phones, so it will get what is offered or do they believe they'll get custom phones with different charging port

 

[MaestroIT]

Once the EU makes USB-C mandatory, most of the world will have no choice but to follow: manufacturers will not make different models with different charging ports.

 

[punctualturn]

Haven't you stopped to think for a second that perhaps the reason Apple is moving to USB C is because the European Commission warned them way ahead of time about this precedent before they made it public to the masses, and not because Apple had a change of heart on feeding people their own proprietary cables?

Just food for thought

Depends.

When was the first apple product released with a usb c port and add to it the planning before its release?

Then lets see when europe started talking about this.

I am too lazy right now to confirm this, but I recall apple started first.

Also, read my post again, funny how now is when these governments are placing deadlines that seems to magically line up with apples roadmap.

Either way, good for the customers and planet.

 

[arrowflash]

I didn't realise Brazil had phone manufacturers! What an absurd article, Brazil imports phones, so it will get what is offered or do they believe they'll get custom phones with different charging port

It may not be as big as the EU, but Brazil is a much bigger market than most of the US-centric TS audience probably believes. Phones might be imported but they already have to adhere to lots of regulations and standards to sell their products there, such as custom chargers for their power sockets that have its own format not used anywhere else in the world.

 

[NintPlayBox]

Depends.

When was the first apple product released with a usb c port and add to it the planning before its release?

Then lets see when europe started talking about this.

I am too lazy right now to confirm this, but I recall apple started first.

Also, read my post again, funny how now is when these governments are placing deadlines that seems to magically line up with apples roadmap.

Either way, good for the customers and planet.

The reality is the European and American Commissions are not there to make enemies, they are there to inform and prepare companies on their next decisions, so most the probably the EU informed Apple of such move at least a whole year ahead in order for Apple to stop manufacturing of their own cables and start the planning for USB C...this was old news for Apple by the time we heard of it for the first time.

Preparing the rich and powerful... That's how the world works.

 

[Aus spot]

How long has this been up and still no correction to the terrible grammar.

Spell check, grammer check. Basics for any publisher.

Language is a sign of intelligence, clearly lacking here.