A frequent question/comment we receive at the show is "I've seen manufacturer XYZ's wireless power solution, and what's the difference between yours and theirs?" Our first response is theirs Qi-compliant? And more often than not, the answer is no.
We then explain the value of a WPC Qi-compliant solution - interoperability. If a contactless charging solution is proprietary, then you need to have a 1-for-1 match. However, if it is a Qi-compliant solution, a portable electronic solution can be charged by any Qi-compliant transmitter. Sometimes this is best understood via a real-life scenario. Imagine a family member has a medical emergency and you have minutes to grab your car keys and cell phone before heading to the hospital. The last thing you're concerned with at that moment in time is the charge level on your cell phone and should you bring the charger. After arriving at the hospital, you realize your phone is dead. What if your phone was Qi-compatible, and so is the hospital waiting room furniture? While you wait, your phone could be charging on an end table or the arm of a chair. No matter the manufacturer or service provider, if your phone was Qi-compatible, your phone would charge with a Qi-compatible transmitter. Starting to see the value...
You can take this one step further. In the not so distant future, you could travel without hauling numerous power cords in your luggage. My guess is I add about 10 lbs to my luggage with power cords alone. Qi-compatible devices could be charged in cars, airplanes, hotels, gyms, office buildings, convention centers and more. The stress of packing, remembering and carrying all your necessary cords could be eliminated.
I would love to be able to leave all these behind, especially for my shoulders sake!