IKEA Furniture: Store & Qi Bringing Wireless Charging Solutions for Samsung Galaxy, Google Nexus Phones
IKEA will soon be offering wireless charging solutions built right into their furniture, according to Gizmodo.
Thanks to a partnership with Qi, IKEA will be producing desks, tables and lamps with wireless charging spots for mobile devices. IKEA will also offer charging pads that customers can add to existing furniture.
IKEA introduced the new "Home Smart" collection at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain. The Home Smart collection will use Qi, a company that excels in wireless charging solutions, to charge devices placed near or on furniture.
"Through research and home visits, we know that people hate cable mess," said Jeanette Skjelmose, a corporate manager at IKEA. "They worry about not finding a charger and running out of power. Our new innovative solutions, which integrate wireless charging into home furnishings, will make life at home simpler."
The furniture collection is set to go on sale in Europe and North America in mid-April. A global roll-out of the furniture is also in the works, according to reps for the company.
Ikea's Qi chargers will be compatible with Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Nexus 6 and a few others. Qi chargers are not yet compatible with iPhones, but adapters are available.
To charge their phones, users of the new Home Smart collection simply place their phone on the pad that is marked with a plus symbol. No cords or adapters are required if the user has the right phone.
Wireless charging is catching on. Starbucks is starting to offer Powermat wireless chargers at its cafes. The chargers are made by Duracell and work in the same way that Qi chargers work by having customers place their phones on top of the device.
Potential buyers of wireless charging devices or furniture should be aware that wireless charging of smartphones can generate excess heat to the battery and potentially damage it.
With convenience in mind, IKEA definitely wants to cash in on these wireless charging solutions. Stay tuned to see how their furniture sells.
What do you think about IKEA's wireless charging devices built right into their furniture? Is this a good idea or a silly gimmick? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think.
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