The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) will demonstrate more than 75 new products and prototypes at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show.
Just as Bluetooth set the standard for exchanging data over short distances and Wi-Fi set the standard for wireless networking, Qi (pronounced "chee") sets the standard for wireless power and charging.
Qi cuts the last remaining cord in consumer electronics. Devices are charged just by placing them on any Qi-enabled surface. Simple, convenient, and flexible, any Qi-enabled device works with any Qi charger, regardless of brand or manufacturer. Qi is backed by a list of over 100 companies.
On display will be Qi-enabled smartphones and tablets, automotive consoles and cradles, furniture, gaming controllers, clock radios, first-responder equipment, mobile routers, and more.
Companies demoing Qi products at CES include: Convenient Power, Energizer, Fulton, Freescale, Haier, Hanrim Postech, Leggett & Platt, LS Cable, MAPTech, NTT Docomo, Panasonic, Philips, PLDS, PowerKiss, Sangfei, Texas Instruments, U-Way, and Wisepower.
"It's the number and types of companies supporting an interoperable solution for wireless charging that make Qi so powerful," said WPC Chairman Menno Treffers. "As we've seen with other recent specifications like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, industry-led, interoperable and open solutions beat proprietary solutions every time. When the biggest names in electronics and the leading wireless carriers, battery manufacturers, semiconductor companies, wireless power technology providers and accessory manufacturers all come together to develop one global standard, consumers win."
Testronic Labs has been also selected by the WPC as the Qi interoperability testing center. The interoperability testing center keeps a library of all Qi-certified products and performs functional interoperability tests with these products on behalf of the WPC.
The Qi logo promises that a wireless charger with the Qi logo will power all mobile devices with the Qi logo. To safeguard that promise, the Wireless Power Consortium performs two tests on all Qi products. The first test is a compliance test performed by a Qi authorized testing center. The second test, which Testronic labs will now perform, ensures interoperability with all Qi products.