[pimterry]

Yes, it won't. As parent points out, the EU previously mandated micro-usb support (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_external_power_supply) which worked fairly well, and hasn't stifled the innovation that's resulted in USB-C.

[nulld3v]

> the EU previously mandated micro-usb support

No they didn't, compliance is voluntary, just read the linked wiki page.

I agree with the point that it won't stifle Innovation though. The swift passing of the USB-C mandate has proven to me that the EU can move quickly, so if a new connector comes along they will be able to switch the law reasonably quickly.

[BurningFrog]

If you've followed the EU for a few decades, you'd know they occasionally move quickly, but not often, and the movement is rarely in the best direction.

[nulld3v]

The multiple previous recommendations on mobile phone charging ports passed relatively quickly too.

[BurningFrog]

Maybe some non Europeans are unaware, but the EU handles several other areas than phone connectors.

[8note]

The topic at hand is phone connectors -- we have data about how the EU handles them, so why bother using estimates from some other thing?

[httptoolkit]

Technically voluntary, but every major phone manufacturer (including Apple) committed to it and followed it (although in Apple's case, with a dongle).

[dahfizz]

But, crucially, they were able to effortlessly move to a better connector when one came along. They were not legally forced to stick with Micro-B. Now they are legally stuck with USB-C indefinitely.

[AlphaSite]

This isn’t swift I don’t think, we’ve been hearing about this for years now.

[nulld3v]

This mandate was conceived in 2018: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46756/attachments/2/...

I think 4 years is a reasonable time frame. Especially considering they weren't sitting around doing nothing for 4 years, most of it was research and surveys

[imoverclocked]

> Although compliance is voluntary, a majority of the world's largest mobile phone manufacturers agreed to make their applicable mobile phones compatible with Europe's common external power supply specification (EN 62684:2010).

Is compliance voluntary for this new ruling?

[Mindwipe]

TBF, it was "voluntary" for the old spec too. Everyone agreed to it in writing because otherwise they were told legislation would be swiftly passed.

That's not really voluntary.

[dahfizz]

According to your link, compliance was voluntary. Its in the second sentence.