Rumors that the iPhone 8 could offer support for wireless charging have been rampant. Apple's latest move of joining an industry group that creates widely-deployed standards for the technology has sent the rumor mill into a frenzy.
Apple has reportedly joined the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which is synonymous with developing wireless charging norms.
The company apparently joined the WPC last week as affirmed by a spokesperson for the latter to publication Business Insider.
"Apple is joining the Wireless Power Consortium to be able to participate and contribute ideas to the open, collaborative development of future wireless charging standards. We look forward to working together with the WPC and its members," confirmed a representative for the company.
The move from Apple suggests that the company could be looking to deploy the technology in its next-gen iPhone, dubbed the iPhone 8.
Apple Joins WPC: The Benefits?
Basically, the WPC oversees the Qi charging standard, which focuses mainly on the interoperability between dissimilar devices and brands that offer support for the wireless charging technology.
When a user deploys a Qi charger, they can simply drop the mobile device on the supported charging pad. Even in the absence of a physical charging cord, the mobile device is able to absorb the power from the pad. However, the charging pad has to be connected to a wall.
With Apple joining the WPC, it can peruse the Qi charging technology on its iPhone 8 with ease. The Samsung Galaxy S6 already deploys the Qi charging technology and Apple could follow suit.
Interestingly, while the iPhone 7 does not deploy wireless charging, the Apple Watch has a wireless charging puck. The smartwatch's charging puck, however, is not compatible with Qi charger as it uses a modified version of the technology.
iPhone 8 Wireless Charging: Inductive Or Long Range?
Speculations have been rife that Energous has partnered with Apple to provide wireless charging support for the iPhone 8. However, patents from Apple suggest otherwise and reveal that the company could be looking to deploy an in-house wireless charging solution.
It is not clear whether the company will deploy an existing wireless charging standard such as Qi, which will encourage interoperability, or tweak an existing technology and couple it with its
Reports are increasingly hinting that the impending iPhone 8 could take the inductive charging route vis-à-vis long-range. The former would require the use of a charging pad. Interestingly, Luxshare, which is supposed to working on a wireless charger for the iPhone 8, is also a member of the WPC.
With Apple joining the WPC, it seems that the company will be eyeing the use of existing standards for wireless charging. The Qi standard is favored by over 200 companies who use it in a gamut of products such as kitchen appliances to smartphones.
The Quick Charge technology from Qi is used by several current-gen smartphones, which gives them five hours of battery charge in just five minutes. If the iPhone 8 peruses the technology then Apple fans will have a new feature to look forward to.
