Wireless Mobile Charging

You'll soon be able to charge your mobile device directly on various pieces of furniture, from nightstands and desks to even the base of a lamp. The leading furniture giants announced at Mobile World Congress on Sunday that they are incorporating Qi technology into some of its product offerings. That means you'll soon be able to place mobile devices on the surface of furniture to replenish your mobile device's batteries, eliminating charging stations and cable clutter.

Qi is a popular wireless power standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) that is available in many hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, airports and other public locations. Many smartphones support Qi charging — 81, in fact; including the newly-announced Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone — as well as 15 car models and too-many-to-count mobile accessories. Qi transfers charge into your mobile device via induction transfer, the device being charged has to follow Qi standard. The following standard is already being used to charge electric vehicles.

Once Qi is embedded in furniture, you'll be able to place a smartphone on certain charging pads that are built into the furniture. It'll be the first time built-in wireless chargers will be available to consumers from a mass-market furniture retailer. While this will get rid of device wires and any need to remember where you put your charger, the furniture itself will require a power source to facilitate the energy transfer to your smartphone or tablet. There are also plans to sell wireless charging modules so that they can be fit into already present furniture and household items.