LG looks to wireless smartphone charging

KOREAN TECHNOLOGY FIRM firm LG Electronics will have a wireless charging mat available from April, joining others like Powermat, Duracell and Energizer that are attempting to make annoying cables and wires a thing of the past.

The LG Wireless Charging Pad, model WCP-700, will be available in April for around $70. It's a bit different from wireless charging mats that we've seen before. This is because in the future LG handsets won't need one of those ugly, bulky cases with a power receiving antenna that you need to fit over your smartphone for it to work.

This is because the technology LG is using here can charge specifically designed phones by using inductive coils built into their battery doors and cases. Of course, older phones won't have these inductive coils, and will need a phone cover to work with the mat. There's no word yet on how or when these covers will be supplied. Visual LED lights, audio and tactile feedback will inform you if a phone is charging properly.

Fulton Innovation, Texas Instruments and other device manufacturers have been working on this wireless technology for LG for some time. They've also been working with HTC, so you should also expect a wireless charger for its Android and Windows Phone 7 devices in the near future. µ