FCC OKs First Power-at-a Distance Wireless Charging System

Charging your electronic devices can be a hassle.

But thanks to the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of a new type of technology, consumers will soon have the option of power-at-a-distance charging for their devices.

Dubbed WattUp, the wireless charger works from up to three feet away and can charge multiple devices at once. WattUp, a mid-field transmitter, will automatically charge WattUp-enabled devices, that are placed within range until they hit 100 percent.

Made by Energous, WattUp is the only product on the market that offers both contact and distance charging. When a Smartphone, for instance, is placed in contact with WattUp, it offers faster charging, but power-at-a-distance mode is also an effective way to charge a device, especially larger ones like laptops and tablets.

“The FCC certification of Energous’ power-at-a-distance wireless charging transmitter is a major market milestone. It opens up options, outside of just contact-based charging, to Wireless Charging 2.0: an ecosystem where devices can be charged both, via pad and at a distance,” Energous president and CEO Stephen R. Rizzone said in a press release. “Untethered, wire-free charging — such as charging a fitness band even while wearing it — is exactly what consumers have been waiting for. We are now in a position to move our consumer electronics, IoT and smart home customers forward at an accelerated pace.”

WattUp has yet to hit store shelves, but Energous will showcase the device at CES 2018 in Las Vegas Jan. 9-12.

Jennifer Cowan is the Managing Editor for SiteProNews.

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