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Apple Joins Wireless Power Consortium Behind 'Qi' Standard Ahead of iPhone 8

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Apple recently became listed as a member of the Wireless Power Consortium, committed to the open development of the Qi wireless charging standard. The listing was brought to our attention by IHS Technology.

qi-charging.jpg

Apple, which has since confirmed it is a member, has become one of over 200 companies that belong to the consortium, including Samsung, LG, HTC, Qualcomm, Verizon, ConvenientPower, Aircharge, Dell, Canon, Sony, ST Microelectronics, Toshiba, Texas Instruments, Philips, Panasonic, Bosch, Nokia, and Huawei.

Qi is the leading wireless charging standard, used by more than 200 companies in products ranging from smartphones to cordless kitchen appliances. Samsung's latest Galaxy smartphones, for example, feature Qi-based wireless charging which requires placing the device on one of its "Fast Charge" stands.

Qi, pronounced "chee," is capable of scaling from less than 1 watt to more than 2,000 watts of power, making the standard more than adequate enough for charging any smartphone. With Qi's latest Quick Charge technology, a five-minute charge can provide a smartphone with up to five hours of battery life.

The so-called "iPhone 8" is widely rumored to include wireless charging, so Apple's participation in the consortium is perhaps unsurprising. Moreover, there is increasing evidence to suggest the "iPhone 8" may use inductive technology, which would require a charging puck or pad, rather than long-range charging.

Luxshare is also a member of the Wireless Power Consortium, which is notable given a recent rumor claiming the "iPhone 8" will have a separate wireless charger based on technology from the Chinese company. Luxshare was rumored to be a supplier of wireless charging coils for the Apple Watch charger.

In 2015, the Apple Watch was found to be compliant with the Qi wireless charging standard, but Apple did not submit it for interoperability testing. However, this does not guarantee that Apple will use the Qi standard for future iPhones, but its membership does show its interest in the technology.

Over the course of the last year, there has been ongoing speculation that wireless charging company Energous has inked a deal with Apple to potentially provide wireless charging technology for the iPhone 8, but patents and other evidence suggest Apple may pursue its own in-house inductive charging solutions instead.

Update: Apple confirmed that it has joined the Wireless Power Consortium in a statement to Business Insider.
Apple is an active member of many standards development organizations, as both a leader and contributor. Apple is joining the Wireless Power Consortium to be able to participate and contribute ideas to the open, collaborative development of future wireless charging standards. We look forward to working together with the WPC and its members.
Click to expand...
Apple said it "looks forward to working together" with the other members to help further the "development of future wireless charging standards."

Article Link: Apple Joins Wireless Power Consortium Behind 'Qi' Standard Ahead of iPhone 8
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/13/apple-joins-wireless-power-consortium/
So, as they tend to do with the consortiums they are members of, here's to hoping Apple is joining to push the capability of standards forward as they've done with Bluetooth, Wifi (remember their role in 802.11n?), etc.
 
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djcerla said:
Long range or it isn't happening ;)
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The wireless charging can be introduced as short range (I.e. requiring a mat) and long range functionality can be added later.
RF charging works with both, as it depends on the intensity of the transmitter. The long range could be added once the technology is refined and the transmitters are miniaturized.
 
NT1440 said:
So, as they tend to do with the consortiums they are members of, here's to hoping Apple is joining to push the capability of standards forward as they've done with Bluetooth, Wifi (remember their role in 802.11n?), etc.
Click to expand...
Indeed. "What ho chaps, all very well and good this Qi thing, but have you seen what Energous and we have been up to?":D

Leastways, I hope so. I have WATT in my small portfolio.
 
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NT1440 said:
So, as they tend to do with the consortiums they are members of, here's to hoping Apple is joining to push the capability of standards forward as they've done with Bluetooth, Wifi (remember their role in 802.11n?), etc.
Click to expand...
There's no real point pushing Qi in my opinion when there's short range and long range RF.
 
Conductive charging never made sense to me, except on apple watch since it's too small to have a charging port. However, if Apple is going to sell me a "wireless" charging dock I might as well use the existing lightning dock, It'll only be less difficult for me to pick it up/place it, I could live with that.
 
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I don't see the point in this, you still have to place the phone on the charging matt for it to charge, i'm willing to see what Apple are doing but i was never impressed with the Samsung version, maybe Apple will change my mind in September with the new iPhones, but at the moment it seems a bit pointless.
 
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Appleaker said:
The wireless charging can be introduced as short range (I.e. requiring a mat) and long range functionality can be added later.
RF charging works with both, as it depends on the intensity of the transmitter. The long range could be added once the technology is refined and the transmitters are miniaturized.
Click to expand...
Don't rule out some sort of pad and long range combination
 
At first when the rumors came out I thought wow how awesome long range, future!

Now, all I see is we're getting the same tech the competition has had for years, how awesome...
$1000?
 
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This whole obsession with wireless charging is absurd. Especially if it requires contact. I use my phone as my gps for a living and if i have to add some bulky, expensive charging hardware to replace my current lightning cable i will be pissed
 
Oh man, I'm excite. I have a collection of Qi chargers and wasn't expecting them to be compatible with the next iPhone. What next? A USB-C port!
 
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