If you look back over the years Apple has been extremely successful in controlling the media and building momentum before the release of new products and new services. We only need to look back at the launch of various iPhones over the years and the mass hysteria on launch night. While the company has been quiet so far, unwilling to officially confirm or deny, it seems certain that the next array of iPhones will have wireless charging.
Deal with chip giant Broadcom
We know that Apple is already working towards a wireless charging product with Broadcom. This was announced some time ago and the companies have been fairly active together over the years. It now seems as though the company is on the verge of delivering a wireless recharging service for the next generation of iPhones and this could be a game changer.
Many have been talking about Apple struggling to maintain phone momentum as iPhone sales come under pressure. Despite the fact the company has a massive war chest it has been fairly reluctant to make any large-scale acquisitions of late. Even though the company does not really shout from the rooftops, it is very busy behind the scenes on an array of different ventures.
Design of next-generation iPhones
One element of the next-generation iPhones which has effectively rubberstamped the idea that wireless recharging will be part of the product is the fact they will be mostly glass. Analysts are well aware that glass is much more conducive to wireless charging than the traditional metal surrounds used today. Everything does seem to be falling into place and we await with anticipation the first product to use this new service.
There is also speculation that recent battery related problems in the technology industry could prompt Apple to hold back this new service in the short term. This position is difficult to justify when you bear in mind the new service appears to be ready to go and the iPhones of the future have been redesigned with this in mind.
Is wireless charging the way forward?
If we put aside the subject of wireless charging in the telecoms industry and look towards areas such as electric vehicles, it is very much the way forward. Over the years we have seen rumours that Apple may well merge with Tesla, the luxury electric car manufacturer, but these did seem to fall by the wayside when Steve Jobs unfortunately passed away. He was extremely close friends with Tesla’s leading light Elon Musk and while nothing was ever confirmed many believe that Apple’s multibillion-dollar warchest could have been used to push Tesla to new highs. There have also been rumours that Apple is working on its own electric vehicle with various project codenames even leaked into the public domain!
Even if the company decides not to pursue a long term investment in electric vehicles this new wireless charging technology, which is unique to Apple, could be used elsewhere. This is a technology which has been mentioned time and time again over the years but has on the whole proved elusive in terms of reliability and cost. However, if Broadcom and Apple have been able to overcome previous issues the potential use of this new technology is endless.