Intel, Samsung and Qualcomm Team Up for Wireless Power Consortium
Intel is joining forces with Samsung and Qualcomm for the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) consortium. The company's move is part of its ongoing efforts to develop and introduce wireless charging for laptops and tablets.
Integrated Device Technology, another member of the A4WP, is also creating wireless charging chipsets for tablets, laptops and hybrids. The wireless charging chipsets are for Intel processors and Intel hopes to bring the technology not just to computing devices but also to mobile or smartphones. Currently, Intel refers to its wireless project as Wireless Charging Technology (WCT).
"Although we are not yet giving out timeframes for consumer products with WCT enabled, IDT has stated they will be delivering their full chipset solution for reference design work in early 2013," Dan Snyder, Intel's representative, was quoted in a statement released last year.
In January, the A4WP introduced wireless charging specifications according to near-field magnetic resonance technology. This technology allows users to recharge multiple mobile devices without direct contact with the charging pads.
Qualcomm who has been developing chips for tablets and smartphones launched its WiPower wireless charging technology once more. The system is designed based on the A4WP specifications. Samsung has been an active member of many wireless charging specification networks like Wireless Power Consortium and the Power Matters Alliance.
Wireless Power Consortium is the group behind the popular Qi specification whereas Power Matters Alliance is developing a wirelss power specification dubbed Power 2.0. Intel is hoping that wirelss charging laptops and other devices running on their chips will provide them better market leverage than competitors.