INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The European Parliament is calling for common chargers to be introduced that would fit all mobile phones and tablets.Although technology
companies have previously been encouraged to work together on developing a universal charger, officials say "voluntary agreements between
different industry players have not yielded the desired results".Such a proposal could be especially challenging for Apple, which has
shipped more than a billion iPhones and iPads which use a so-called Lightning connector.Image:Phone chargers come in many shapes and sizes -
much to Europe's annoyanceAccording to EU officials, the changes would make customers' lives easier and help the environment, with estimates
suggesting that old chargers generate more than 51,000 tonnes of electronic waste each year.Members of the European Parliament are planning
to vote on the measure at a future session.The EU has been calling for chargers to be standardised for several years.Last January, Apple
argued that such a law would stifle innovation, harm the environment and cause unnecessary disruption for its users.Image:Apple doesn't seem
to be a fan of the European Parliament's proposalsThe tech giant warned: "More than one billion Apple devices have shipped using a Lightning
connector in addition to an entire ecosystem of accessory and device manufacturers who use Lightning to serve our collective customers."We
want to ensure that any new legislation will not result in the shipment of any unnecessary cables or external adaptors with every device, or
render obsolete the devices and accessories used by many millions of Europeans and hundreds of millions of Apple customers worldwide."Sky
News has contacted Apple for its response to the European Parliament's latest announcement.
