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The wireless charging industry is clearly invigorated by Apple’s decision to join the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)-including a rival charging consortium.
Apple’s disclosure that it has joined the WPC is seen as lending weight to rumors that the company will add wireless charging to the iPhone 8. WPA touts Qi (pronounced Chee), an inductive wireless charging technology where the coils need to be aligned to make the connection, although WPC says some Qi transmitters use a multi-coil system, eliminating the need to align the device on the charging area.
“After several years of increasing rumor, Apple’s membership with the Wireless Power Consortium points strongly to the expectation that the next iPhone will include wireless charging technology,” wrote Vicky Yussuff, analyst at IHS Technology.
The Apple Watch was the first device from the company to support wireless charging out of the box; it also was based on the Qi standard.
If indeed Apple incorporates Qi into smartphones, it will finally answer a lot of questions...