Apple eyes move into wireless charging – report

PanARMENIAN.Net - Apple could be about to follow Nokia by introducing its own wireless charging solution for iPhones and other devices in 2013, according to a report, Digital Spy said.

Industry sources told Taiwanese news site DigiTimes that Apple already has wireless charging technology in development internally, and could be about to roll that out in its "flagship" products.

However, the sources did not indicate whether the next iPhone, thought to be the iPhone 5S rumoured for an August launch, would feature wireless charging.

In the past, Apple has distanced itself from wireless charging solutions, arguing that the approach is meant to simplify things when it actually makes them more complex.

Phil Schiller, Apple's vice president of marketing, told tech news site AllThingsD last year: "Having to create another device that you have to plug into the wall is actually, for most situations, more complicated."

However, Apple may be persuaded to accelerate the wireless charging technology by the initiatives of its rivals.

Samsung is widely expected to adopt the Qi wireless charging standard - from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) - in its next flagship phone, the Galaxy S4, when it is announced next week.

HTC, LG, Motorola Mobility are also understood to be members of the WPC and considering their own wireless charging solutions for smartphones.