MWg and Splashpower team up for wireless charging of smartphones
Mobile & Wireless Group (MWg) and Splashpower have joined hands in an effort to bring wireless charging to the mobile masses. Using electromagnetic induction instead of a traditional plug on the handset, by just dropping -- well, no need to actually drop it -- the handset on a Splashpower pad the built-in inductive charging components in the phone will begin to renew your battery without a need to actually plug it in. The first handsets are due out in the second half of the year and we're positively stoked to see one of these in action.[Via textually.org]
Filed under: Handsets, Peripherals
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
joshpollard @ Jan 30th 2008 3:48PM
I don't know that I understand that point of this technology. If I have to set the phone on top of this pad, which by the way is much bigger than the plug going into my Touch, then what it makes it SO MUCH MORE CONVENIENT than just plugging it in?
slamEVIL @ Jan 30th 2008 3:54PM
you can set more than one handset on it at a time.
haven't these been out for a while though?
SpectreBlofeld @ Mar 12th 2008 4:59PM
Well, for one thing, it means your phone can be truly waterproof with no exposed data ports/charge ports/copper leads. All data transmission can be done via Bluetooth.
joshpollard @ Jan 30th 2008 3:59PM
I only have one phone. Don't most people only have one phone?
Sean Cooper @ Jan 30th 2008 4:00PM
phone, iPod, whatever can all just be put down on it to charge (if they have the internal magic)
Heathen @ Jan 30th 2008 3:59PM
The future of charging is here and it is a frikin table
Tush @ Jan 30th 2008 4:40PM
Ah, if only Tesla's original idea of free wireless power for everyone came true
NuShrike @ Jan 30th 2008 5:15PM
They're working on a variation of it currently. The problem has been bad efficiency due to the power loss on the other end.
trevor @ Jan 31st 2008 12:16AM
I'm excited to just see the technology in action; battery life has arguably been the single greatest handicap to any and all portable devices.
Think about when wireless internet first came out: why, when your entire house was already conveniently wired with plugs and computers in several rooms, would you ever need a wireless connection?
I could see this spreading the same way WiFi has. Imagine a short-range model installed in coffee shops, where people could surf the web AND recharge their whatever while getting their morning joe. Tres cool.
joshpollard @ Jan 31st 2008 7:18AM
The short range model I could see being very useful. Especially in coffee shops and airports. But this idea that I'm going to set my phone on a device, when I could just as easily plug it in seems a little ridiculous.
Rand Fitzpatrick @ Feb 4th 2008 11:40AM
Amusing. Those two companies had booths next to each other at CES this year, so I'm sure it gave them plenty of time to talk.