GigaOM Pro

Wireless power is finally getting into consumer hands. But the products showing up on store shelves are a far cry from the technology's truly disruptive promise.

After years of hope (and no little amount of hype), wireless power is finally getting into consumer hands. However, the technology that is showing up on trade show floors and store shelves is a far cry from the truly disruptive promise of wireless power. As we cram more computing power into our mobile phones and use them to deliver the web, take photos and shoot video (as well as talk), a key limitation has become the battery. Anyone who has experienced a three-hour battery life after surfing on a Wi-Fi network knows first-hand that battery life can impede the enjoyment of a full-featured mobile device. And that problem is the one that wireless power will one day solve.