Apple acquires wireless charger maker PowerbyProxi

Apple on Wednesday announced the acquisition of PowerbyProxi, a New Zealand-based wireless charger maker, according to news website Stuff.co.nz. The company was founded in 2007 by an entrepreneur, named Fady Mishriki.

The exact terms of the transaction have not been disclosed by either of the parties.

"The PowerbyProxi's team will be a great addition as Apple works to create a wireless future," Businessinsider quoted Dan Riccio, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, as saying.

Wireless charging offers a highly flexible and easy way of charging one's device by placing it on a pad or mat-type surface, rather than connecting it with a charging adopter and charging cable.

According to commentators, Apple has made a late entry into the field of wireless charging technology. The feature was introduced by rival Samsung long back on its devices.

They point out that there seemed to be some specific reasons why Apple showed interest in PowerbyProxi. The New Zealand-based company can produce wireless chargers capable of transferring up to 150-watts, through non-metallic materials.

"The team and I are thrilled to join Apple," Mishriki said in a statement. "There is tremendous alignment with our values, and we are excited to continue our growth in Auckland and contribute to the great innovation in wireless charging coming out of New Zealand."

The Qi specification, which is the industry's most popular specification, allows for power transfer ranging from 5 watts to 15 watts under the latest v1.2 release. For the new iPhone 8, which goes on sale on 3 November, Apple chose 7.5 watts of power transfer.

"Apple's been behind on this," said William Stofega, IDC's programme director for mobile phones, www.computerworld.com reported. "Because they want to keep the device nice and thin, they didn't want to go with the crowd."