O2 will pilot Ireland’s first mobile phone handset sold without a charger with the launch of the HTC One X+. The initiative is aimed at reducing waste and lowering the environmental impact of new phones. The pilot is a partnership with HTC and will see O2 selling the forthcoming One X+ handset without a charger plug. The phone will come with a USB-to-micro-USB cable which can be used with existing chargers that have a USB input, or with a USB slot on a PC. Customers will be able to buy a charger if they choose.
Following the recent conclusion of a similar pilot scheme run by O2 in the UK, more than 80% of customers opted to reuse an existing charger rather than purchase a new one. O2 anticipates that the vast majority of its customers inIrelandwho purchase the HTC handset will use existing equipment.
The HTC One X+ features a 1.7 GHz quad-core processor, 64 GB of internal storage, and a 2100 mAh battery, which provides longer life and up to 37% more talk time than its predecessor, the HTC One X. The device builds on the celebrated photographic capabilities of the HTC One X with a series of new features, and also includes Beats Audio – authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers an immersive sound experience with an enhanced audio profile.
Ashley Cook, Consumer Director of O2 says of the pilot: “There is a big environmental cost to producing multiple, often redundant chargers. I believe that, as mobile phones have become more prevalent, we as retailers and manufacturers have an ever greater responsibility to be a more sustainable industry. I am delighted that we are pioneering a more environmentally friendly and charger-free approach with such an impressive device.”
Lisa Duggan, HTC Country Manager, Ireland, says: “HTC is excited to be supporting this pilot because, like O2, we think that it is the right time to inform our customers about the environmental impact of wasted phone chargers, as well as the benefits of using the chargers and mains adapters that they already own. We strongly believe in the benefits of a common industry micro-USB charger and have implemented this hardware across our entire portfolio. A unified approach across all manufacturers and retailers would dramatically decrease the industry’s carbon footprint, not only in terms of manufacturing but also packaging and transport.”