Power Pad Offers Easy Recharge

Amid the wireless buzz, a company claims to have solved the "last wire" dilemma by eliminating the need to plug in devices to charge them. Startup MobileWise is working with Acer and others to ship (early next year) a pad with a conductive surface capable of powering compatible computing devices that simply rest on top of it--as efficiently as if they were plugged into an electrical outlet.

The "last wire" dilemma refers to the power adapters used to recharge and power mobile devices ranging from notebooks to PDAs to cell phones: It's the remaining wire that can't be replaced by existing wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and 802.11. But MobileWise, which demonstrated its wireless electrical power and charging device this week, may enable users of mobile devices finally to cut the cord.

Chip Connection

An early design of the technology resembles a thick rubber place mat. Metal "connectivity points" span the pad's surface and deliver power to the charging contacts on a compatible notebook, cell phone, or other device that is laid on the surface. A single pad can power or recharge various compatible devices at once, accommodating as many as will fit on the pad, according to company representatives. Each unit will contain the intelligence to identify itself and its specs to the pad. The largest of the first pads is limited to 240 watts of output.

Its potential uses are diverse, said Andy Goren, the company's chief executive officer, who demonstrated the technology. One obvious benefit is that a pad, which has a single power cord that plugs into the wall, could replace the multitude of power supplies required for individual devices that fit on its surface.

"All these different wires are getting replaced all the time by wireless technologies. The last problem that has remained is with the power supply," Goren said. The concept was devised by company founders, who include former executives of Palm and Motorola.

PC and handheld device maker Acer has committed to releasing a number of "next-generation" mobile computing devices in the first half of 2003 that will ship with a wire-free power supply based on MobileWise's technology, said Arif Maskatia, Acer's chief technology officer. He wouldn't say which devices will first support electricity pads. However, this week's demonstration featured Acer's soon-to-be-released TravelMate Tablet PC.

Samsung is also partnering with MobileWise to use the technology in future Samsung products, as have Japanese manufacturers RF Technology and Hanrim Electronics, which will produce the pads for device makers. The pads are expected cost less than $200, and become available early in 2003.

Also in Development

The base is safe for human contact and emits no harmful radiation, the company says. It will only distribute power to devices placed on top of it that also contain a special microchip developed by MobileWise. The chip sends information to the pad, such as how many watts are required to power the device. That means other objects, such as a metal wristwatch or a full coffee cup, would be unaffected when placed on top of the mat. Even a liquid spill would not harm the MobilWise pad Goren said (though it could obviously harm an electronic device resting on it).

MobileWise, in large part a microchip designer, has developed a low-cost chip that can be integrated into the chip set of any device so it can draw power from a pad. The company has also developed the reference designs for pads of various sizes, which licensees will customize and build.

Hoping to attract a broad base of customers, MobileWise has designed the pads to work with some devices that don't ship with the MobileWise chip. The company is working with manufacturers to release adapters that will plug into existing mobile devices. Potential adapters expected to ship by mid-2003 include replacement mobile phone batteries and small adapters that will plug into a device's power input jack, Goren said.

Potential--But Challenges

The pads have promise to free consumers from the power cord and to provide device makers with a low-cost device that boosts sales, said Rob Enderle, research fellow with Giga Information Group. Its market success, however, depends on a number of circumstances.

"It's a cart and horse issue. The manufacturers would love to see the device...it could make them a bit more competitive," Enderle said. "The problem is that people aren't going to want to buy the mat unless there are devices that work on it."

MobileWise is already devising plans for future uses of the technology. It could be used to supply power to toys, kitchen appliances, and power tools, the company said. Because the rubbery plastic pads are impervious to food and liquid spills, MobileWise envisions using surfaces of the same material as a counter or desktop, powering common household appliances.

The technology can also transfer data, and could someday replace a notebook docking station, which is used to distribute electricity as well to act as a connection point to the Internet and peripherals, Goren says. For example, a digital camera placed on the pad would automatically transfer stored images to the hard drive of a notebook also on the pad. Or the pad could be used to synchronize data between a PDA and a notebook.

Like most people who have seen the pad in action, Enderle summed it up: "It's a real cool technology."