AT&T, Google, Starbucks Join Wireless Power Consortium

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By Wolfgang Gruener
published

The Power Matters Alliance (PMA), an organization that is working toward the standardization of wireless power supply, now has the support of AT&T, Google, Duracell and Starbucks.

The initiative was originally founded by Powermat Technologies and Procter & Gamble, and said that the U.S. Government’s Energy Star and Federal Communications Commission are serving as "board observers".

The PMA is approved as an IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Industry Connections program that promises to "advance smart and energy-efficient wireless power, known as Power 2.0." Advancing wireless power, however, has so far only been a marketing and sales pitch for PMA-compatible devices and not so much a technology development effort, as the core of PMA is based on Powermat technology.

For example, the PMA said that:

  • "Jay Z has installed PMA-compatible Wireless Charging Spots throughout his 40/40 Club in New York"
  • "Starbucks is testing PMA-compatible Wireless Charging Spots in select Boston stores"
  • "AT&T has begun selling PMA-compatible wireless power cases and charging surfaces in select markets"
  • "General Motors will include PMA-compatible wireless charging for smartphones in upcoming models"

The PMA said that the technical PMA specifications are available as a free download to PMA members. The annual membership fee to join the PMA is $2,000.

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Wolfgang Gruener
5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • wannabepro
    Wireless power should be transmission of power through the air, i.e. Tesla Coils.
    This is the same technology as what's in my wireless toothbrush. However, it's a step in the right direction. Although somewhat overpriced...
    Reply
  • svdb
    wannabeproWireless power should be transmission of power through the air, i.e. Tesla Coils. This is the same technology as what's in my wireless toothbrush. However, it's a step in the right direction. Although somewhat overpriced... If the induction energy was high enough to be transmitted from one end of your room to the other, you'd be fried in seconds. Besides, when your phone is on that powermat, there's air between your phone and that mat, a lot of air.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    Why create another standard when Qi devices are already on the market? Qi is a standard put forth by the Wireless Power Consortium. It has many members are even supports both magnetic induction and magnetic resonance.
    Reply
  • Last I checked there is no spec from PMA. Qi has a spec and a whole lot of devices using the standard. Its interesting that all these companies call these PMA compliant....its more like Powermat proprietary protocol compliant....It will be interesting when I take my ATT Lumia with Qi and try to charge at starbucks and it doesnt work.....
    Reply
  • Qi is licensed for free, PMA is proprietary and will make them loads of money.

    Source: http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/qi-wireless-charging-powermat-pma-97875
    Reply