Automotive Market Key to Wireless Charging Success, Says Juniper

filtering, said the industry research firm. Data exchange capability via wireless charging will enable automatic driver adjustments such as the height, incline and position of the seat and mirrors when the driver’s phone begins to charge, analyst James Moar told us. The transmission range via wireless charging is short enough to prevent the transmission of conflicting signals from passengers’ phones, unlike Bluetooth, he said. Data exchange could automate other driver user experiences such as climate control and music playlists, Moar said. Automakers will be able to provide software-based services via streaming notifications between a smartphone and the dashboard rather than having to keep on-board firmware and hardware updated, said the report. Several smartphone brands have incorporated wireless charging capability into devices, but consumers are largely unaware of the feature, Juniper said. Samsung is leading the way with the Galaxy S6, and more brands will begin to promote the concept over the next few years, though phones will continue to ship with a wired charger as a standard accessory in the near term, it said. Over a third of all smartphones shipping in 2020 are forecast to have wireless charging built in, said Juniper. For wireless charging to succeed, carriers and phone retailers will have to give consumers an option for wireless chargers supplied with new devices, said Moar in the report. "The technology will not take off if it remains a $30+ additional purchase.”