Suspected Apple Partner Energous Says Wireless Charging Transmitters Will Begin Shipping by Year's End

Energous, a company which is rumored to have partnered with Apple, says its wireless charging transmitters will begin shipping by the end of 2017, reports The Verge.

In a phone call ahead of CES, Energous CEO Steve Rizzone said that wireless charging transmitters, which can charge devices wirelessly from several feet away, are now supposed to begin shipping by the end of 2017.

Devices integrated with WattUp receiver technology can seamlessly transition from being charged by small, contact-based, portable transmitters, to forthcoming larger transmitters that offer charging at-a-distance of up to 15 feet.


Notably, at last year's CES, Energous said its transmitters were set to ship by the end of 2015; however, the plan changed after the company signed a 'key strategic partnership' about a month after the convention. This led to a renewed focus on miniaturizing the technology and gave its partner the right to be the first to ship its charging technology inside of phones, laptops, tablets, and certain wearables and accessories.

It's widely rumored that the 'key' partner is Apple. Rizzone says the partnership is with "one of the largest consumer electronic companies in the world. I cannot tell you who it is, but I can virtual guarantee that you have products from this company on your person, sitting on your desk, or at home."

For now, Energous is ready to ship traditional "wireless" charging pads which require devices to be placed on top of them. It has announced six partners making devices ranging from Bluetooth trackers to hearing aids that will support WattUp. Notably, the devices will support true wireless charging when the company's transmitters hit the market.

We've been hearing reports for some time that the 10th anniversary iPhone will be a major update. It will purportedly have a front glass cover and chassis, joined by a metal bezel and an edge-to-edge display that has no bezels on the top and bottom. Additionally, the front camera, Touch ID, speaker, and other sensors will apparently be embedded into the display. Another report claims that the device would be a clear piece of glass with a next-generation OLED screen. More recently, Apple is said to have be equipping the phone with wireless charging and a 3D camera.


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