The 100 members of the Wireless Power Consortium are competing in all parts of the value chain, from IC design to providing certification services.

Competition between the members is driving investments in R&D. To survive you have to innovate.

The eco system build around the Qi specification drives innovation in 3 ways:

1. Guaranteed interoperability makes it possible to introduce new types of wireless chargers without risk. Customers will understand that is works when the product has the Qi logo.
2. The Qi specification allows for product differentiation. Designers of wireless chargers have freedom to do whatever their application needs, as long as charger is compatible with all Qi receivers.
3. The consortium agreement between the members of the Wireless Power Consortium makes sure that all members have access to each others essential patents.

Read more about it in yesterday's presentation at the wireless power summit.

Visteon Technologies joined the Wireless Power Consortium today.

They are the 100th member of the WPC.

Huawei joined the Wireless Power Consortium today.

They are the 99th member of the WPC.

Power transfer with ultrasound. Now that is an original idea!

Meredith Perry, a 22 year old enterpreneur, has managed to harness ultrasound to transfer power. NPR has an article about her and her uBeam product.

Magnetic induction, microwaves, light, and infrared lasers have been tried and used extensively, but ultrasound is really new. My compliments!

Meredith is not the only youing entrepreneur in wireless power. Robin Nagelmaeker (21) is co-founder of GetPowerpad, with Tom Canters (26).