The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) today announced that PowerbyProxi, Inc. has become its newest member and joined WPC's management team. PowerbyProxi will share its expertise and intellectual property to help advance the technical capabilities of the Qi standard and ensure that consumers can enjoy the best charging experience. PowerbyProxi will contribute to the WPC by extending specifications to address applications for smartphones, as well as higher power tablets, PC ultrabooks and notebooks, and high power kitchen appliances, while ensuring backward compatibility with the existing Qi ecosystem. Lower power devices such as gaming controllers, toys, media players and cameras will also be covered.
“We are looking forward to PowerbyProxi playing an active role on the management team of the WPC,†said Menno Treffers, Chairman, WPC. “PowerbyProxi is a pioneer in highly resonant wireless power and the WPC will leverage their expertise in spatial freedom and multi-device charging to deliver more choices to consumers.â€
The rapidly expanding Qi ecosystem is designed to deliver wireless power wherever consumers need it – in their homes, offices, cars and public locations. Mobile carriers around the world including AT&T, China Mobile, NTT DoCoMo, O2, Sprint, Telefónica, T-Mobile and Verizon, are contributing to the rapid adoption of Qi by selling tens of millions of phones integrated with Qi wireless charging. Consumers can now choose from over 200 mobile phones and accessories, including the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S3, LG Google Nexus 4, Nokia Lumia 920, LG Optimus G Pro, and HTC Droid DNA.
Qi charging is available in automobiles, including the 2014 Jeep Cherokee and the Toyota Avalon and Prius, and in a growing list of public locations such as coffee shops, airports, hair salons and restaurants, in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific.
“The WPC has built a significant worldwide market based on the Qi specification and continues to gain momentum,†said Greg Cross, Executive Chairman of PowerbyProxi. “Becoming a full member, and participating in the management team, enables us to leverage our proven expertise by making contributions that will deliver solutions for a better user experience while expanding to a wider range of consumer devices and appliances,†said Cross.
PowerbyProxi, is a venture-backed company which initially spun-out of the University of Auckland, a world-recognized center of excellence for wireless power. With field-proven technology in industrial and consumer electronics solutions, ranging from less than one watt to kilowatts, PowerbyProxi offers some of the most sought-after features, such as full spatial freedom with simultaneous charging of multiple devices, while meeting safety and regulatory standards.
The Qi standard ensures interoperability, regardless of manufacturer or brand, and offers simplicity, convenience and flexibility. Qi is backed by more than 130 leading companies of the WPC including: ConvenientPower, Energizer, HTC Corporation, LG Electronics, Motorola Mobility Inc., Nokia Corporation, Panasonic, Philips Electronics, PowerbyProxi, Research In Motion, Samsung Electronics, Sony Corporation, Texas Instruments, Toshiba Corporation, and Verizon Wireless.
