Wires: the last great bane of the Western world. While efforts have been made to get rid of them - thank you, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth - the last great bastion of the evil plastic snakes is in power.
However, it looks like the end is finally in sight with the news that IKEA is launching a new range of desks, bedside tables and lamps that come complete with built-in Qi wireless charging technology. Simply rest your compatible device on the 'X marks the spot' and, voila, it will enjoy some wire-free charging.
Qi is, in fact, one of two charging technologies battling it out to become the industry standard and has been adopted largely by phone handsets. The other, PMA, has proved popular among restaurants and shops. While some handsets, like the newly announced Samsung Galaxy S6, are capable of using both, the IKEA announcement could be hugely useful in making Qi the VHS and PMA the Betamax of the brave new wireless charging world.
To acknowledge the two protocols, IKEA will be selling cases for iPhones and older Samsung Galaxy phones to make them compatible with the technology. In addition to the furniture, it will also be rolling out small charging pads, which can rest on any surface.
The new range is expected to go on sale in mid-April in Europe and North America, with prices starting at £30.
(Images: IKEA)
[via PRNewswire]
