WiTricity Announces Breakthrough Wireless Charging System for iPhone 5 / 5s
WiTricity, the industry pioneer in wireless power over distance, has just introduced the world’s first system for wireless charging of consumer devices such as the iPhone 5 using the company’s patented highly resonant wireless power transfer technology.
A quantum leap forward in convenience and ease of use for wireless charging of consumer electronics, the WiTricity system charges gadgets over distance and through a variety of materials – including wood, granite, plastic and glass. Initially designed for the iPhone 5/5s, the WiTricity charging system is available as a reference design for companies who want to apply the technology for charging other smartphones, tablets, or consumer electronic devices.
The WiTricity charging system for the iPhone 5/5s includes a wireless charging hub and a charging sleeve that fits an iPhone 5 or 5s. Similar to other protective covers, the WiTricity sleeve quickly slides onto an iPhone 5/5s and is powered when in proximity to the WiTricity charging hub. Capable of charging two phones concurrently, the charging hub can be placed on top of a table as an upright or flat charging pad, or mounted underneath a table or desk for charging through the surface. By mounting the charging pad under a surface, smartphone users are freed from the tangle of charging cords and cluttered desktops.
Traditional inductive charging pads have seen limited acceptance because they require very accurate placement of the mobile phone on the charging pad, while taking up valuable tabletop real estate. In contrast, the WiTricity system provides:
• Positional Freedom: Simply place an iPhone 5/5s in its charging sleeve in proximity to the charging hub and the phone charges as quickly as plugging in. Unlike induction pads, there’s no need to position the iPhone exactly in a specific location on the charging hub.
• Multiple Device Charging: Using a single coil, the WiTricity system allows multiple devices to be charged simultaneously and effectively. With induction-based systems, multiple device charging on a single pad requires multiple coils, driving up the cost of the charging system.
• Installation Flexibility: Unlike induction mats or other chargers that require physical contact and placement on top of a table or other surface – or major modifications to the table or counter – the WiTricity charging hub can simply be affixed under a table while providing power to the phone through the tabletop. Any table, desk, or counter can be turned into a wireless charging “hotspot” without unsightly clutter or requiring drilling or cutting into the underside or through the surface.
“Our team is thrilled to introduce the first wireless charger that works over distance,” said Eric Giler, CEO of WiTricity. “We’ve seen the transformative nature of our foundational highly resonant wireless power transfer technology in the automotive, medical and military fields, and now plan to change the game in consumer electronics. This is an incredibly exciting time for resonant wireless power, and we’re excited to be leading the charge to a wireless future.”
WiTricity’s charging system will be offered as a reference design and development system to mobile device manufacturers, charging accessory developers, and furniture designers to accelerate development of their own wireless charging products based on resonant wireless power. The system is architecturally compatible with next-generation wireless power standards being developed by the leading standards organizations, and offers the flexibility to be adapted to a wide variety of smartphones, tablets, and wearable computing devices.
We hope to receive some samples soon and will be posting our personal thoughs and review, look out for that.
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
