WPC Readies For New Qi Wireless Charging Demo
Barcelona, Spain — The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) will be at Mobile World Congress 2014 to demonstrate an extension of its Qi magnetic resonance wireless-charging specification.
John Laposky
The resonance extension of the Qi spec allows wireless charging over a longer distance with more freedom of placement while improving efficiency and reducing lower radio frequency interference, the WPC said, and it is compatible with the more than 400 existing Qi-certified products currently on the market worldwide.
This will be the first demonstration of the enhanced capabilities in Europe, the group said, and will feature Qi charging products and prototypes from members ConvenientPower, PowerbyProxi, Leggett & Platt, PLDS and Panasonic, among others.
On display will be Qi-compatible smartphones and tablets; automotive cradles and in-console chargers; "the industry's first wireless avionics charger," according to WPC; as well as gaming accessories and new wireless-charging solutions for the office, home and public spaces.
The WPC pegged its installed Qi base worldwide at more than 40 million units, including 62 models of Qi-enabled phones and tablets available in the market, including the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S III, Nokia Lumia 1020, LG G2, Motorola Droid Maxx and Mini, Google Nexus 5 and the Google Nexus 7 tablet.
Worldwide mobile carrier members include Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, China Mobile, NTT DOCOMO, Telefonica and Verizon.
Automotive members include Audi, BMW, Daimler, Harrier, Jeep, Prius, Porsche, Ssangyong, Toyota and Volkswagen.
"2014 is going to be an exciting year for Qi and the wireless-power industry," said John Perzow, WPC market development VP. "The WPC has created a process where the best minds in the industry work together to innovate. The magnetic resonant demo is a perfect example of what is possible when you create a competitive-cooperative environment and then get out of the way."
Other members of the WPC include Foxconn, Haier, HTC, IKEA, LG, Qualcomm, Royal Philips, Samsung, Sony, Texas Instruments, Toshiba and ZTE.
Mobile World Congress will be held Feb. 24-27 at the Fira Gran Fira Conference Center. The WPC will be in Hall 5, stand 5C41.
The WPC's announcement comes a day after the Alliance For Wireless Power (A4WP) announced that Dell is backing its rival Rezence magnetic resonance wireless technology, which will also be demonstrated at the show.
Earlier this month, another rival, the Power Matters Alliance (PMA), backer of WiTricity and Powermat, joined forces with the A4WP to establish interoperability of their respective wireless-power standards under the Rezence spec, leveling the playing field for magnetic resonance charging to two rival standards.
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