WiTricity Joins Power Matters Alliance / Appointed to Vice-Chair Resonance Working Group

WiTricity Corporation has joined the Power Matters Alliance (PMA). WiTricity, the exclusive licensee of MIT's patents for wireless energy transfer, will help define a highly resonant implementation for the PMA's 'Power 2.0' set of specifications. PMA recently formed a technical working group to add a resonant implementation to the 'Power 2.0' group of specifications. WiTricity has been appointed to Vice-Chair this working group, whose first task is to create a specification for smartphone-ready highly resonant wireless power. This specification, the first draft of which is expected to be available to PMA members later this year, will be fully compatible with the PMA's existing inductive wireless power specification and products.

"WiTricity has done some of the most foundational work in wireless power in the modern era," said Ron Resnick, president, Power Matters Alliance. "We are thrilled that WiTricity will be making their experience and knowhow available, is committed to offer licenses to WiTricity IP to all PMA members and will be helping to lead the PMA's Resonance Working Group."

"We have been watching the competing standards for wireless power for some years, and have been evaluating which showed the most promise," said WiTricity CEO Eric Giler. "Our decision to join the PMA reflects our conclusion that the PMA is the group most ready and able to unite the industry around a common standard for wireless charging over distance, which will accelerate the adoption of this technology in the electronic devices consumers rely on every day. Our active role will help enable the development of ubiquitous wireless charging infrastructure in coffee shops, retail stores, homes, offices, airports, cars—so that wireless charging will be available to consumers wherever and whenever they need it."

Also today, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a leading specialty coffee and tea retailer in 24 countries, announced it will be testing wireless charging with PMA at certain of its Los Angeles locations. The Coffee Bean plans to deploy wireless charging with PMA in dozens of California stores this quarter, with the aim of expanding nationally and internationally shortly thereafter.

"Wireless power is becoming mainstream and we want our consumers to be able to recharge their digital self no less than their physical self in our stores," said Mel Elias, CEO & President, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. "Even those who cannot read tea leaves can see the PMA's momentum; and we are pleased to be able to play our role in support of the wireless power industry for the benefit of consumers worldwide."

"I'm very excited that the PMA is aligning with The Coffee Bean to test wireless charging in stores within their core market," said Ron Resnick, President of the PMA. "The Coffee Bean epitomizes what the PMA is about: not simply setting a global standard, but creating a real-world ecosystem of smart and environmentally-responsible wireless power, for the benefit of consumer everywhere."

PMA was founded by Powermat Technologies and Procter & Gamble in 2012. Google's Vint Cerf – one of the fathers of the Internet – is its Honorary Chairman, and its board includes AT&T, Duracell, Starbucks and the US Government's Energy Star and Federal Communications Commission (both non-voting). A wide array of PMA-compliant products are available at leading retailers, and compatible 'wireless charging spots' have been installed at leading airports, stadiums, restaurants, gyms and hair salons.