Two major wireless charging groups are teaming up to make sure they are developing interoperable standards.
The Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and Power Matters Alliance (PMA) will work together to streamline wireless charging, each adopting the other's specifications and collaborating on an open network API.
"This announcement delivers a compelling message for the industry to commit and deliver wireless charging devices now," A4WP President Kamil Grajski said in a statement. "Between the organizations, A4WP and PMA membership consists of the key players necessary to drive industry consolidation and establish a commercially viable globally interoperable wireless charging ecosystem."
Some of those key players include industry heavyweights like Broadcom, Intel, Qualcomm, and Samsung Electronics from A4WP, and Starbucks, Procter & Gamble, and Powermat Technologies from PMA. Board members from each group unanimously voted to approve the agreement.
"We have listened and acted very deliberately to the overwhelming voice of the industry to simplify rollout of wireless charging technology and bring more alignment within the ecosystem," said PMA president Ron Resnick.
Wireless charging has been slow to take off, in part because it requires an ecosystem of chargers, allowing for simultaneous charging of multiple devices in cars, on tabletops, etc. While Apple has yet to embrace the technology for iOS devices, other manufacturers like Nokia and Samsung have given it a change.
IHS Technology expects the global market for wireless power receivers and transmitters to rise to 1.7 billion unit shipments in 2023—a growth of about 25 million over last year.
"Combining the standards from A4WP and PMA offer the best choices of core technologies and managed network services," Resnick said, "delivering the consumers a seamless, easy-to-use and convenient wireless charging user experience."
The efforts got a boost today when wireless charging company WiTricity joined the A4WP and pledged to incorporate the Rezence specification into their designs. Rezence, which launched in December, is the official consumer brand name for the group's wireless power technology.