Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)
Established in 2008, the Wireless Power Consortium is an open, collaborative standards group with 600+ member companies worldwide. “Qi” is a registered trademark of the WPC. The Qi standard (for smartphones and other portable devices) delivers up to 15 W today; future extensions aim for up to 60 W to enable laptop charging in addition to wide-positioning smartphone and accessory charging.
About Menno Treffers
Menno Treffers is the chairman of the WPC and a board member of IEEE-ISTO, a non-profit dedicated to advancing technology standards. He holds a PhD in physics from Leiden University. 
Interview with Menno Treffers (by Chongdiantou)
1) The battle for wireless charging standards: Why did Qi prevail?
- Chongdiantou: The battle for wireless charging standards—Qi prevailed. What do you think is the key reason for winning?
- Menno: Qi prevailed for two reasons:
- Created by companies with experience bringing wireless charging products to market. Our members know what is and isn’t possible in real products.
- Created by companies with experience in successful industry standards. Our members know how to cooperate efficiently.
2) Apple’s role in popularizing wireless charging
- Chongdiantou: How do you evaluate Apple’s role in the popularity of wireless charging?
- Menno: Apple is one of the most influential brands. Their support for Qi helped a lot in making consumers aware of wireless charging.
3) Impact of Apple AirPower cancellation
- Chongdiantou: What do you think of the cancellation of Apple AirPower—what impact will it bring to the industry?
- Menno: The delay in Apple’s charger launch benefited other manufacturers because they could sell more to iPhone users. The cancellation doesn’t change that; Apple customers still need a wireless charger. Demand is even higher with the new AirPods wireless charging case.
4) View on proprietary extensions
- Chongdiantou: What’s your view of proprietary extensions?
- Menno: Proprietary extensions are an easy way for manufacturers to increase received power in a phone. At the same time, phone makers want to support Qi. We see increasing support for Qi’s fast charge method—the Extended Power Profile. A good example is Xiaomi’s M9: it supports 10 W in Qi mode and 20 W in proprietary mode.
5) Certification of proprietary extensions
- Chongdiantou: How is the proprietary extension certified?
- Menno: Wireless chargers can be tested for proprietary extensions as part of Qi Certification; it is not a separate program. Samsung Proprietary Extension is the first method testable by the WPC. Others will be added when their owners make test specs available to the WPC.
6) Unifying proprietary extensions
- Chongdiantou: What has WPC done to promote the unification of proprietary extensions?
- Menno: The WPC is increasing Qi’s supported power levels via the Extended Power Profile—currently 15 W, planned to increase to 30 W and maybe 60 W. Support is growing; Xiaomi’s M9 is a good example. LG and Sony are also making phones that support it.
Desktop wireless charging
7) Protecting members against counterfeits and unsafe products
- Chongdiantou: What measures will WPC take to protect members’ rights and interests from counterfeit products?
- Menno: The main challenge is competition from untested, potentially unsafe products. They look cheap but are often dangerous. We work with retail channels to raise awareness of the dangers of uncertified products. The best channels actively promote Qi Certified products to keep customers safe. Our cooperation with JD.com is a good example.
8) China’s wireless charging market vs. overseas markets
- Chongdiantou: What do you think of China’s wireless charging market? Differences vs. overseas?
- Menno: Overseas markets started earlier—Nokia and Samsung were first adopters and have relatively low share in China. China has caught up with Huawei and Xiaomi supporting Qi. China is now taking the lead in protecting consumers against unsafe products, as seen in unique cooperation between WPC, CCIA, and JD.com. We are also discussing with CESI from a safety standards perspective. JD.com is our first global e-commerce partner.
9) Plans for medium- and high-power markets
- Chongdiantou: Beyond low-power (phones), what are WPC’s plans for medium- and high-power markets?
- Menno: The WPC is close to releasing the 2200 W kitchen specification. We expect a big impact on kitchen design and appliances, with very positive feedback from prototypes.
10) Market outlook for the next five years
- Chongdiantou: After explosive growth in 2017, the market has been steady since 2018; some are pessimistic. What’s your five-year outlook?
- Menno: I expect continued growth. Adoption in mid-range phones and earphones is next. Earphones have started to use Qi. Apple’s announcement of Qi support in new AirPods is significant and will drive growth.
11) Long-distance charging (Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi-like) feasibility
- Chongdiantou: Many consumers see long-distance charging as “real” wireless charging. How far is it from commercialization?
- Menno: Long-distance wireless power exists today but only at very low power—milliwatts, or even microwatts beyond one meter. It cannot deliver enough power for phone charging. Widespread commercialization is very far away.
12) Overall optimism and advice for practitioners
- Chongdiantou: Are you optimistic about the wireless charging market? Any suggestions for practitioners?
- Menno: Yes, I am very optimistic; I expect continued growth. Suggestions: buy Qi Certified subsystems. Develop your own charger only for very high volumes or special requirements—the low-risk path to high-quality, lowest-cost products.
