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Nokia has joined the Wireless Power Consortium, which was founded to create and promote wide market adoption of the Qi wireless power standard for interoperability across rechargeable devices. Using this standard, a range of products including phones, cameras, remote controls, and other mobile electronics will be able to use magnetic induction to recharge simply by being near a single power transmitter. Multiple plugs, wires, and chargers will be eliminated.

According to the group’s research, a universal standard in wireless power charging ranked within the top 20% of consumer lifestyle demands. Also, more than 80% of consumers would use wireless power with virtually all of their electronic devices every time they need charging. The Wireless Power Consortium’s members include ConvenientPower, Duracell, Hosiden, Fulton Innovation, Legget & Platt, National Semiconductor, Nokia, Olympus, Philips, Samsung, Sanyo, Shenzhen Sangfei Consumer Communications, ST-Ericsson, and Texas Instruments. 

“As the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer and leader in mobile telecommunications, Nokia brings a new dimension to the Consortium,” said Menno Treffers, chairman of the Wireless Power Consortium. “This significantly expands the potential market traction of the Qi wireless charging standard.”

Designed as an open standard, Qi will use the same charging time as current wired chargers. It also will meet the major regulatory international safety and radiation emissions standards. First, the group will establish an international standard for devices of 5 W and below, with an international standard for high-power devices and equipment to follow. It is focusing on proximity charging because charging over long distances is very inefficient, with only a small percentage of power making it into the device and the rest wasted as it leaks into the environment.