Qualcomm, Duracell to explore working together to bring benefits of wireless power to CE market

LAS VEGAS, USA: Qualcomm Inc. and Duracell announced the signing of a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore the possibility of working together to develop an industry alliance that supports and promotes flexible coupling-based wireless power solutions to the consumer electronics industry.

Qualcomm and Duracell hope to pave the way for broad OEM and consumer adoption of a new wireless power technology and to advance an industry standard. Qualcomm and Duracell believe that flexible, coupling-based wireless power solutions deliver a new level of consumer ease of use to wireless charging.

A demonstration of the potential of this type of wireless power, using Qualcomm’s WiPower wireless charging technology, is available at the 2011 International CES, January 6-9 in Qualcomm’s exhibit located in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, Upper Level #30313.

“Touching and improving lives is at the heart of P&G’s company vision. Similarly, Duracell is an innovator in the personal power space to enable consumers to live their lives unconstrained. Making power available to consumers wirelessly will be the perfect fit to enhance the mobile lifestyles we lead today and will enable countless future innovations,” said Stassi Anastassov, Duracell president.

“If you think about the revolution that wireless data transmission has brought in recent years, we think we are on the threshold of similar innovations that can make power available just as easily as the WiFi connections that are so familiar today. We are delighted to be exploring the possibilities of wireless charging with Qualcomm, an innovation leader in the mobile technologies people are using to connect.”

“Duracell is recognized around the world as a leading provider of quality power solutions for consumer electronic devices,” said Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president and group president of Qualcomm. “We are excited to explore working with Duracell and hope to advance industry adoption of flexible coupling technologies, such as Qualcomm’s WiPower.”

Qualcomm’s WiPower wireless power technology uses radio frequencies to transfer energy wirelessly over short distances between a transmitter-equipped charging pad and devices containing built-in receivers. Dependent upon the combination of devices, including handsets and other popular consumer electronics devices, multiple devices can be charged concurrently using WiPower, typically at rates equal to wired solutions.

WiPower is designed to shut down automatically when charging is complete. Qualcomm’s WiPower allows for flexible device alignment, which provides greater flexibility for design and installation into phones and other applications such as commercial and passenger vehicles, office and home furniture, and communal spaces such as airports or coffee shops.

The Duracell brand has been powering consumers’ lives for more than 40 years, not just through the familiar battery, but also with wireless products, lighting and peripheral charging devices that allow the freedom of using devices when away from the grid.