CTIA Supports Universal Adoption of 3.5mm Plug and Micro-USB Connector

For those cell phone users who get tired of carrying an audio or proprietary charging adapter around, this is definitely an exciting news: the CTIA Wire Association is backing an attempt to make 3.5mm plugs and micro-USB connectors as the standard features of mobile devices.

The international trade group recently announced in its annual conference that it is in favor of the standardization of certain jacks on handsets released after January 2012. To ‘streamline and enhance the customer experience’, it is encouraging the industry-wide adoption of the 3.5mm audio headphone plug and the micro-USB format for connection with peripheral devices, such as chargers and laptops.

Currently, there is no specifications regarding the kind of connectors to be equipped in cell phones. Many handsets on the market only come with a 2.5mm jack instead of a 3.5 mm one, and a proprietary jack rather than a micro-USB connector. This often means consumers have to buy an extra adapter in order to use their own headsets and chargers.

"By simplifying input and output features on mobile devices, economies of scale will reduce consumers' costs," said CTIA’s president Steve Largent. Federal Communications Commission also welcomes the proposal and believes it bodes well for consumers, inventors and the environment. Reusing chargers and other peripherals on multiple devices could reduce electronic waste.

Members of the CTIA, which include handset makers Nokia, Samsung and Motorola, as well as the four largest carriers in the U.S., all showed support for the standardization, stating that consumers will benefit in the end. In fact, back in July, HTC has said it would equip a vast majority of its future devices with a 3.5mm jack. Newly launched handsets such as the Hero and the Imagio are examples.

The CTIA’s statement may be solely a gesture of support instead of a binding agreement, but it is still an important step towards a standardized interface across the mobile industry. It is probably a matter of time before other vendors follow HTC and make similar changes.

Tags: Cellular Handsfree, Cellular Charger, Car Charger, Cell Phone Audio Adapter, Universal 3.5mm Headset Adapter, Universal 2.5mm to 3.5mm Headset Adapter