How many chargers did you carry on your last business trip or vacation? Here is my list on my recent vacation/business trip:

- MacBook Pro brick
- Nokia E61 charger
- HP IPaq charger
- Platronic Bluetooth headset charger
- Canon Powershot battery charger
- Canon EOS battery charger
- Philips Shaver charger

I think I may have TMDS(Too Many Device Syndrome), but I’m sure there are others in a similar situation. With the accumulating weight of the chargers reaching close to 5lbs, it is closing the gap for US flight weight restrictions(50lbs). I believe that if there is a situation that is not convenient and/or effecient, there is an opportunity to improve. What I do not understand is that why the problem of the universal charger has not been tackeled head on. With many new devices poliferating the market on a daily basis, the problem can only get worse.
I do not think there is a technical issue in creating a universal charger. A company called IGo has been doing it for a few years now and I think they have been farily successful. I tried getting the IGo product myself but I’m sure IGo is having a hard time keeping up with the new devices coming up everyday. In the end, I decided not to get it as the portfolio of devices that IGo supports does not exactly match my list of devices.
Clearly the problem is not completely a technical issue. Maybe the issue is on proprietary nature to maintain optimal performace of the device or increase revenue for the firm. Think about it – the more number of chargers(or batteries) get lost or damaged or drained out, the more “free” revenue that the firm can capture. I say “free” because the firm does not have to spend on marketing, advertising or ongoing R&D to generate this revenue. I would be surprised though if this revenue was very large. (If anyone has more details stats on this – please share!).
For many devices (at least the smaller ones), a USB charger should be more than enough. This is a global standard now and I do not see any reason not to adopt it. By using a standard, it benifits and consumer and the manufacturers. Only one charger is really required and firms can reduce costs in charger manufacturing and packaging.

I hope manufacturers realize the gravity of the situation and move towards standards and inter-operability before I have 50lbs of chargers to carry with me on every trip.