Mobile devices will be able to talk to wireless charging platforms through a partnership between the Alliance for Wireless Power and the backers of Bluetooth.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group and the A4WP announced a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to make the Bluetooth Smart radio standard available for A4WP charging systems. Bluetooth Smart could power applications that prioritize one device over another or let phones tell chargers when their batteries are full.
A4WP is one of a handful of emerging standards for powering up devices without having to plug them in. It's expected to ship next year in charging pads for homes and public venues such as coffee shops. The Bluetooth SIG has issued a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) to the A4WP for use in its BSS (baseline system specification). With the BSS, A4WP chargers will be able to communicate with smartphones and other devices via Bluetooth Smart, a low-power version of Bluetooth for so-called Internet of Things applications. Bluetooth Smart will be able to carry session management and power control data, the groups said.
Wireless charging platforms by themselves just transmit electricity into devices through space or other objects. A4WP charging pads can stand by themselves or be installed in countertops and other furniture. Users with handsets, tablets and other products equipped for A4WP can charge them just by placing them on top of the pad or somewhere else in the immediate area.
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