Bluetooth SIG and Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) sign MoU

NEW YORK, USA: The Bluetooth SIG and Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that establishes a formal liaison relationship and heralds the creation of a new consumer electronics device category: the smart wireless charging station.

As a first step, the Bluetooth SIG has issued a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) to the A4WP for adoption in its baseline system specification (BSS). The A4WP BSS utilises the Bluetooth Smart radio standard to carry the session management and power control between an A4WP charging station and an A4WP-certified device, e.g. smartphone.

Benefits of the close integration of Bluetooth Smart with the A4WP standard include:

* Consumers will benefit from devices initiating a charge more quickly when coming into contact with charging surfaces.

* Consumers will also see improved power control features such as giving one device prioritised charging when multiple devices are charging at the same time.

* OEMs and developers will be able to create a new class of applications to leverage these smart wireless charging stations (e.g. mobile payments, location based services).

"Bluetooth Smart is a foundation technology for the Alliance for

Wireless Power." said Dr. Kamil A. Grajski, president of the A4WP. "By combining Bluetooth Smart with magnetic resonant wireless power transfer technology, the A4WP delivers a next-generation user experience that features one charging station to many simultaneous devices, freedom of placement on tabletops, desktops and automotive environments, and charging solutions that scale seamlessly from wireless headsets to smartphones, to tablets and laptops."

"Adoption of Bluetooth Smart into A4WP wireless power technology allows us to completely reimagine what wireless charging is and does," said Suke Jawanda, chief marketing officer, Bluetooth SIG. "It opens the door to an entirely new class of wireless power applications, services and communication solutions that can activate when devices come into contact with wireless charging surfaces - maybe ordering and paying for a meal by simply putting your phone on a table. The opportunities are limitless, but made more realistic through this partnership."