Powermat has ruled the retail consumer market for more than a year now with its wireless charging solutions. However, as evidenced by multiple CES exhibits, other brands are jumping into the fray. That’s a really good thing because Powermat products have always felt just a tad on the pricey side, and a little competition should help drive retail costs down. Meanwhile, Powermat isn’t standing still either. Even as new companies introduce their own inductive chargers, Powermat is slimming down its cases and just announced an agreement with GM to put Powermat surfaces in the Chevy Volt and other future GM cars. Viva innovation.
New Wireless Power Entrants
Enercell
Enercell, which sells products exclusively in RadioShack stores, is scheduled to introduce its first two induction-based charging pads in April. At launch the company will have cases/skins for the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch, however it’s also committed to introducing Blackberry solutions in the near future. (No immediate word on Android handsets) Charging pads will run you $49 a pop, with skins in the range of $29-$39. That’s bargain basement compared to Powermat.
Dexim
The makers of the Visible Charger I posted on earlier during CES also have an induction charging solution planned for spring. The first retail SKUs will be a “super slim” charging pad, and a case for the iPhone 4. Bundled together, the two products will run $80. Again, no immediate word on when an Android case might appear, or, in this case, a Blackberry phone option, though both are presumed likely possibilities.
Energizer
Energizer: The well-known battery brand actually launched its all-purpose wireless charging pads back in September, but CES was the first place I’d seen them on display. The company’s three-position charger pad runs $89.99 at Amazon, and cases for the iPhone and Blackberry Curve retail for $34.99. Interestingly, Energizer has had a wireless charging system for Wiimotes available for more than a year. It’s apparently now broadening its horizons to include a non-gaming audience.
Enercell product is “conductive” as in WildCharge technology & “my grid” from Duracell, which look to be a compatible standard. The WPC (wireless power consort) is working hard on the standardization of inductive space, however there r still several proprietary inductive techs (4+) on the shelf eg Powermat inductive is NOT compatable w/qualcomm/energizer and these as well r not compat with each other.. Regardless the point is early adoption is taking off which will force standardization and price points falling, off to a good start this year..
WiProwess- I’m trying to get confirmation that the Enercell solution is not inductive. Thanks for the heads up. And yes, there could be a whole other post on wireless charging standards. As you say, the good thing here is that adoption is ramping up, which hopefully will speed standardization and lower prices.
Just not interested until I don’t need a special case. And since the iPhone has a battery that isn’t “user replaceable” there isn’t an obvious way to do that. This stuff needs to standardize so that the batteries shipped with the devices support the standard and can be charged with one of these pads without special adapters/cases.
The energizer Wii charger works great, I have had it for a few months. As far as the PowerMat and Duracell there seem to be a lot of complaints (judging by comments on Amazon) which has scared me away from those products. Similar to how Energizer works with the Wii if you can remove the battery you should just be able to put in a chargeable approved battery and not need any special case (so I could just change the battery in my Blackberry and be set).
I heard the glass back of the iPhone 5 is a solar charger. (OK, I didn’t really hear that.)
Powermat talked last year about moving to batteries instead of cases and battery doors, but nothing seems to have materialized yet.
You forgot to mention the new Electrohub Wireless charging mat for games and phones http://www.dascheap.com/electrohub-universal-wireless-induction-charger-pad-induction-charging-mat.html
Can someone explain the appeal of induction charging? Is there some advantage besides the minor cool factor, and not having to fiddle with a cable for 2.3 seconds?
I bought an Enercell charging pad. It came with a “charging skin” for an iphone 4 . The ad said it works with a Samsung Galaxy S . It neglected to say you need a different charging skin ! I tried to contact the company…no luck. I tried to e-mail enercell …no luck. Anyone with an insite as to what now ?