Industry Leaders Get Together On Global Wireless Charging Standard

The wireless charging industry is figuring out what other industries have over the years: If you want to foster growth, standardize. The Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and Power Matters Alliance (PMA) have agreed to work together to develop global interoperability between their respective wireless charging standards.

“These two organizations are taking the necessary steps to get the job done," said Ron Resnick, President, Power Matters Alliance in a press release. "Combining the standards from A4WP and PMA offer the best choices of core technologies and managed network services, delivering to consumers a seamless, easy-to-use and convenient wireless charging user experience." Companies on the respective boards of the A4WP and PMA include Broadcom, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung, Starbucks, Procter & Gamble, and Powermat Technologies.

Rezence wireless charging

The PMA will adopt the A4WP’s “Rezence” specification for magnetic resonance charging, while the A4WP will integrate the PMA’s inductive charging spec and will collaborate on the PMA’s open network API for network services management.

Powermat wireless charging at Starbucks

Together, the companies want to give consumers a “true drop and go charging experience”--in other words, a simple yet compelling wireless charging solution. The timing is good, as an IHS Technology analyst believes that the market for wireless power receivers and chargers will rise from 25 million last year to 1.7 billion by 2023.