Qi takes positive step in wireless charging

An international consortium founded in Hong Kong launched the world's first universal standard for wireless battery charging yesterday, called 'Qi', to cut the last cord that limits mobility for smartphones, digital cameras, media players and other consumer electronic gadgets

The Wireless Power Consortium's new standard is expected to help speed up the ability of various consumer electronics brands to bring compatible wireless charging products to market. This will benefit consumers who have had enough with using different power chargers and cables for a myriad of devices.

Instead of plugging electronic devices into a charger, consumers will be able to simply place their gadget on top of a desk pad, which will charge their device wirelessly.

Chairman Menno Treffers said the consortium's goal was to 'bring simplicity and convenience to users', while making wireless power chargers ubiquitous.

'Qi empowers mobile-phone manufacturers to integrate wireless power receivers, the semiconductor industry to incorporate the functionality into their chip sets, and infrastructure providers to build chargers in homes, offices, automobiles, hotels and furniture,' Treffers said.

According to market researcher iSuppli Corp, shipments of consumer electronic products with wireless charging capability will reach 234.9 million units by 2014 from 3.6 million units this year. Treffers said hitting those numbers would be expedited by having a universal standard with broad industry support. The consortium, which was set up in December 2008, enabled that, he said.