According to Laptop Logic, China just announced that they'll be requiring all new Chinese cell phones to use USB ports to charge instead of proprietary adapters. The idea is to make it easier for the average person to charge their phone no matter where they are, even if they don't have their adapter with them.

As someone who's used Motorola phones for the past three years and who recently got a Q (which is the first phone I've owned that has a mini-USB connection), I have to say I approve of China's intentions. The proprietary charging jacks on my old phones were unreliable and eventually came loose enough that I had to jiggle the power cord to get a connection. The mini USB jack on my Q, however works like a charm every time. Although I think it's unlikely that this trend will spread to other countries (manufacturers do a lot of work separating phones by region, after all), it's not something I would mind seeing on all cell phones.