Ikea flat-pack furniture to integrate Qi wireless smartphone chargers

Smartphone owners will soon be able to recharge simply by placing their device on a piece of Ikea flat-pack furniture.

Having partnered with the Wireless Power Consortium, the Swedish company will soon be selling furniture with integrated wireless chargers, which recharge compatible phones by being in contact with them - there is no need for any cables, apart from one connecting the furniture to the mains.

The WPC recently oversaw the introduction of wireless charging to 50 UK McDonalds restaurants and IBTimes UK understands the consortium is also working on an imminent announcement with a major car manufacturer.

Ikea's charging furniture and lamps will start from £30 and go on sale in the UK in mid-April - good news for anyone who has lost their phone charger, or is constantly having to relocate them around the house.

Wireless charging is already possible on some smartphones thanks to replacement rear covers with the technology built in; these can be bought for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Note 4, and the LG G3.

If a company the size of Ikea included the technology in every table it sold, smartphone makers may well feel obliged to include wireless charging as standard in future handsets. The Samsung Galaxy S6, to be announced on 1 March, will reportedly include wireless charging as standard.

Ikea said: "Through research about life at home, Ikea saw that looking for a charger for your devices and getting rid of cable mess was a true customer wish. Ikea took this challenge together with their home furnishing knowledge. The solution was furniture with built-in Qi wireless chargers from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC).

"In order to get access to new but available technology, Ikea became a member of the WPC. Through this network, Ikea is able to collaborate with many global brands and learn from each other's experiences. This sharing of knowledge helps us all under WPC to develop smarter, qualitative and more cost-efficient solutions."

The technology builds on collaboration with the global certification standard Qi, offering a third party certification for wireless charging products. The new collection, turning bedside tables, floor and table lamps as well as desks into charging spots, was designed by among others David Wahl.

"We have created smart wireless solutions so you don't need to see the cables anymore. Many products can be charged at the same time, but you still have a beautiful wireless home", Wahl said.

The WPC has over 200 members across a variety of industries, including Asus, BlackBerry, HTC, Huawei, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Samsung, Sony and ZTE.

Phone-charging furniture could include desks and tables, as well as the arms of chairs and sofas. IBTimes UK will be speaking with Ikea about its plans for the high-tech flat-pack at Mobile World Congress on 2 March.