The European Union determined that as of January 1, 2025 no phone without a USB-C port can be marketed, including the iPhone. A true revolution that leaves no one without an opinion, including the former vice president of ManzanaTony Fadell, known as the father of the iPod.
For Tony Fadelthe new European Union requirement is “the right thing to do,” but he also had words for his former company, calling Apple “a monopoly.”
The former Apple executive spoke about the issue on Twitter, responding to users of the social network. One asked if the iPod would succeed if Apple were forced to use USB 1.0 instead of the faster FireWire technology of the day.
I can’t see a problem. The world has converged on USB-C. The physical & user limits have been hit. Next up is wireless per, not a diff physical connection.
So I’m not too worried about this regulation. They’re simply forcing Apple to do the right thing… it’s overdue frankly. https://t.co/COtiZNCtmn— Tony Fadell (@tfadell) October 6, 2022
Fadell responded by saying that the world “converted to USB-C”, because the limits of the older standards have reached their limit.
For the creator of the iPod, the European Union it only forced Apple and other smartphone makers to “do the right thing” by adopting USB-C.
Not in this case. This is only happening because Apple hasn’t been doing the right thing. Period. This is about a monopolist like position not about technology. I hope after Apple is forced to change the regulations will be removed to allow innovation to continue. https://t.co/fkAk9yVtPn
— Tony Fadell (@tfadell) October 6, 2022
Later, the former vice president said that the regulation only happened because Apple has a position similar to that of a monopoly. “Some regulation and standardization on the part of the consumer is necessary, since companies are not always interested in doing the right thing for the best interest of society”.
The USB-C port for everyone, a decision of the European Union that affects Apple
The decision of the European Union is due to the need for all cables and chargers serve people no matter what model of phone they have. The only difference will be the compatibility with charging speeds, but all phones must have a USB-C port.
2024 is the cut-off year for all phones on sale to have a USB-C port: from January 1, 2025 none can be marketed without such a port.
Although laptops have also entered the new European regulations, their chargers will have more time to adapt: the final date will be spring 2026.