Standardization key for wireless charging in handsets, says IMS Research

The Wireless Power Consortium's announcement of a draft standard marks a key milestone for wireless charging technology. With a standard in place, wireless charging offers a unique product differentiator not only for mobile handsets, but for an entire ecosystem of portable electronic devices, according to IMS Research.

Although wireless charging technology has been common in products like electronic toothbrushes and shavers for years, the technology gained significant media attention from those covering the mobile handset market with the release of the Palm Pre earlier this year, the research firm stated. Now that a draft standard for the technology is in place, a key hurdle for increased penetration in the mobile handset market has been cleared. "The real value of the technology lies in the ability to charge a range of devices with the same charger," commented IMS Research analyst, Chris Schreck. "While proprietary wireless charging implementations offer some novelty for tech enthusiasts, a wireless charger capable of recharging a consumer's laptop, camera, personal media player, and mobile handset offers a much better value proposition to the user."

A standard is also critical for developing an ecosystem of chargers in more places than just the home or office. "The nice thing about standardization is that now, for example, a coffee shop can consider integrating the technology into a table, which would charge your laptop and handset when you sit down," Schreck continued. "And one can think of any number of places, from a conference table to an airplane tray table, where wireless power for a portable device would be convenient. A standard makes these scenarios more economically feasible, even if still far off in the future."

As mobile handsets continue to evolve, and power becomes an increasingly precious commodity in handsets, wireless charging shows the potential to carve out a niche in the handset market. IMS Research predicts over 11% of mobile handsets shipped in 2014 will feature wireless charging capabilities. Key to that market penetration is the continued development of an acceptable standard that supports penetration in a range of portable electronic devices.