Apple prepares wireless charging tech for iPhone

Apple has been in discussions with partners in the U.S. and Asia to develop the technology, which could be in iPhones by 2017, the news service said.

Apple is now overcoming technical barriers and assessing other aspects of the new charging scheme.

Japanese newspaper Nikkei has revealed (via AI) that Apple has recently started mass production of the smaller iPhone, ahead of the official launch expected to take place in March. The company filed a patent application several years ago describing an iMac serving as a wireless charging hub that could charge devices from a meter away using near-field magnetic resonance technology. Despite having wireless charging technology, users still need to plug in the charger into the wall. That same charger point could also power accessories, like bluetooth keyboards and mice. Electric toothbrushes have been using wireless charging, which is sometimes also called inductive charging, for years.

The iPhone needs a cable for charging. Sony Corp. and Google Inc. are among rivals that have released wirelessly-charged smartphones that still require proximity to a charging plate. Sources told Bloomberg that the technology could be deployed on iPhones as soon as next year.

So wireless charging is nothing new for the company, but Apple needs to offer something innovative if it wants to retain its share of the smartphone market.

Although Apple hasn’t confirmed that its developing such technology, it’s easy to speculate how useful it could be. Current devices with wireless charging capabilities, including the Apple Watch, require constant contact with a pad or mat to draw the power needed to charge the device. The said technique allows radio waves to penetrate aluminum phone casings.