UL Offers the Qi Logo Certification Service for Wireless Charge Device
UL has commenced a logo certification service for the wireless charging standards, "Qi". UL Japan has become Japan's first company to be certified by Wireless Power Consortium ("WPC") as a third-party certification organization. WPC formulates the international standards for wireless charging compatibility of mobile devices and promotes dissemination of these standards. To display a Qi logo on a product, passing a qualification exam conducted by an accreditation organization is required. "Qi" is the international standard for wireless charging by the electromagnetic induction method, and was formulated by WPC in 2010. Qi-certified products can be charged with any types of Qi-certified rechargers, irrespective of the manufacturers.
Because a dedicated recharger for a specific product will not be required, consumers' convenience will be improved, and as such, demands on Qi-certified rechargers are increasing globally, especially at facilities such as airport lounges and cafes. Since the very first Qi-certified product was released in 2010, more than 100 products have obtained the Qi logo certification (as of July 2012). The wireless charging market, in conformity with the Qi standards, is expanding year after year and it is estimated that it will be a 123.9 million-US-dollar market in 2012 but will rapidly expand into a 23.7 billion-US-dollar market by 2015.
Stephen Kirk, representing the VP & GM WiSE*4 in UL Inc., said, "Many of the Japanese companies have been involved in the Qi standards since the formulation phase. UL will continue providing support to our customers to advance and expand into new markets by offering Qi logo certification services. It also provides an opportunity to continue our efforts to strengthen our services in Japan, which our company regards as one of our strategic regions."
Vice President, Managing Director of UL Japan, Hidehiko Yamajo said, "I feel honored to know that UL Japan has become the very first third-party organization to provide the Qi logo certification services in Japan. Nowadays, Qi has become widely known as the wireless charging standard, mainly for smart phones. The use of Qi may be expanded to tablet terminals, notebook PCs, gaming machines, home electronics, and furniture in the future, and is expected to become one of the key elements to generate a new lifestyle. While many Japanese manufactures focus on developing products in conformity with the Qi standards, our customers can release their new products in the domestic and international markets as soon as possible by effective use of our engineers and support."
