Powermat charging system

November 2009

Everything from sat-navs to MP3 players needs juice, so adaptors and extension cables soon clutter your garage. But the Powermat tidies things up.

Connected to the wall socket by a single plug, the unit can wirelessly charge up to three devices at once using special receivers. These magnetically align each object placed on the Powermat to transfer electricity, indicated by an LED light.

Charging will stop when the device is full or if you simply pick it up. There are receivers for various gadgets – a case for an Apple iPhone, a dock for an iPod or a battery pack for Blackberry phones.

A Universal Powercube has tips which are compatible with mini and micro USB sockets, LG, Samsung, Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones, plus Nintendo DS Lite and Sony PSP games consoles.

A folding portable Powermat is available, which takes up a third of the space. And while there’s no 12V cable just yet, the firm is looking at in-car applications. That could soon mean an end to a mess of wires in the cabin.

 * Maker’s claim: “A revolutionary new wireless charging system.”

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