Cutting the cord for mobile devices

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Americans have a love affair with mobile devices, but hate when we run out of power and have to plug in. New technology may soon allow us all to cut the power cord.

Right now wireless charging options available to consumers require direct contact with a charging pad. But technology rolling out soon will allow the exchange of electricity over thin air.

“Some companies have come up with technology that actually does allow you to beam power wirelessly from one place to the other within a matter of, of inches at this point,” explained Engadget Editor in Chief Michael Gorman.

Gorman says a matter of inches could mean power supplies with the ability to charge multiple devices hidden in desks or furniture and the end of cord clutter.

“I could certainly see it, in the next four to five years if the technology progresses, it to be kind of the de facto standard because I think nobody really wishes they had more cords to deal with,” he said.

John Perzow is with the Wireless Power Consortium. He envisions technology built into everyday infrastructure, so consumers can juice up throughout the day.

“The idea is that if your phone is always charged then you eliminate this thing we all share called battery anxiety. That’s the feeling you get as your phone battery starts to drop,” said Perzow.

And what about accessing power over longer distances the same way we do with wi-fi? There are companies working on using antennas and radio bands or ultrasound technology to beam power throughout a room.

The bottom line, experts say consumer use of wireless power is in the early stages, but we’ll see some of the technology to charge over a short distance, in consumer products starting next year.

Experts say one of the setbacks for wireless power is that there isn’t one universally accepted standard that can be built into all products that need power.