A wireless charging revolution

An iPhone that gets power without being plugged in may be a defining moment, writes

be incapable of it.

As will self-flying electric drones. Amazon, which is trialling drone deliveries, has said its autonomous aircraft have a range of just 30 minutes, meaning they will need constant recharging to make repeated deliveries. Landing on strategically dotted charging pads could provide a solution.

Despite companies now putting resources in, the technology risks being held back by squabbles over standards. Two different industry bodies – The Wireless Power Consortium and Airfuel Alliance – are proposing different technologies, which threaten to become the VHS versus Betamax of wireless power.

Deloitte also points out that the radiation created by wireless charging points is higher than that from mobile phones, which have created their own health scares. Most experts believe the technology is safe, but sensational scare stories could well put users off.

The shops and restaurants that install wireless charging points may also be unwilling to give electricity away for free.

Chargifi, whose software allows companies to manage wireless power networks, says it will be up to individual firms to decide what the trade-off should be.

Bladen says many may provide it for free – based on early evidence that people spend 43 minutes charging their phones on its network: valuable dwell time for coffee shops, pubs and shopping centres looking for ways to encourage visitors to stay.

Few have committed to it wholeheartedly. Starbucks has wireless charging points in nine outlets in London, and sandwich chain Pret a Manger in three. But all eyes are on the iPhone to take the lead.

‘‘Once it happens everyone will say ‘wow that happened really quickly’,’’ Bladen says. ‘‘It will be Apple that plants the flag for this.’’ – Telegraph Group