While this is obviously the future of charging, limiting yourself to one brand makes it expensive and potentially redundant in the long term.

Hopefully efforts like the Wireless Power Consortium will result in similar technology being integrating into devices, which will all be compatible with an 'open-standard' charger. No bulky cases, no vendor lock-in and potentially greener charging.

Devices then shouldn't need to be shipped with chargers, and unlike the current 'bricks' which are left plugged into the wall wasting electricity when they're not being used, the mats can almost completely power-down when they're not being used.

This is a great idea, but requires collaboration and integration with a large range of manufacturers to make it work well - hopefully the future will make this a reality.

This device is obviously a big step in terms of consumer technology. While it isn't quite a refined product now, in ten years we will all be using technology that stems from 'powermat'.

Remember the early days of mobile phones? 'Why would I want one of those bulky, power-hungry things' people would say. Now, with R and D spanning over a decade the things are practical.

I think all the comments so far just about sum it up. However this is the future, mass cable less tech is just around the corner and about time. However this particular tech has been around for ages and i am surprised that it hasn't come further, once device manufacturers start adding the componant in their devices which will happen soon it will become the norm.

Conclusion: Def worth waiting for a year or so!!!!!

I'm afraid powermat current trust of publicity is because they are on the ropes.

Their propriety system is threatened by a cross company standard call "qi" anyone buying this system now could end up with the betamax of powerchargers!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Power_Consortium

This thing takes up more space than a charger and it will have a mains lead going to it. It is a proof of concept device, that only a fool will buy. Also Apple's battery policy is pretty shoddy and they will use any excuse not replace anything under warranty.

I live in the UK and as always we get this sort of rubbish all the time when it to late, and as for ADDING another 3MM to an iphone WHY OH WHY would anyone do this.

Say these at BestBuy just today in the states. Caught my attention and seemed like a cool idea until I saw the adapters on the phone. Not sure how many people are going to want to add a good 3mm + weight to the backside of their phones. Ugly. No thanks. Integrated into the battery maybe, otherwise, keep it.

to see 90% efficiency. I am a bit knowledgeable in PS design, and the best wired commercial (i.e. better than consumer grade) PS in the tens of watts power range may reach 90%-92%. Wall plugs consumer grades power supplies are much lower than that. Then the mat's people need to convert the juice for coupling duty - another efficiency loss path.
Now for the inductive coupling: the best coupler there is, a ferrite-based transformer, may reach 90%-96% efficiency under ideal conditions. Air coupling like in the mat are way below that level.
Overall, I would expect wall-to-gadget input at about 40-50% efficiency. However, I suspect they push the "green" aspect since it is fashionable now. The important thing for such device is functionality, convenience and price.

that 90% (under most optimal circumstances) is on top of the efficiency of psu supplying the mat. I only guess that they did not bother to include the losses in the device that has to process current from an antenna. would not expect high power density either - trickle charge for patient folks only, and a new source of static noise.
just get a plug

£70 mat + £30 doo dee. or a free charger that you plug in...... nuff said. This mat only can do 3 at a time so where is the space saver? I thought that there is a drive for every1 to use mini usb anyways. so why we need this