Wireless charging powering forward for your mobile phones

On Tuesday two wireless charging standards agreed to join forces and share their technologies so that both can improve.

It's a move that will not only improve the standards of wireless charging technology but will also drive the industry towards a universal standard and in the process likely increase the adoption of it, turning it from a fairly niche technology to something which could one-day outright replace wired charging.

Though in the short term its more likely just to mean that more phones and other devices will support it, while the uptake of wireless charging pads in coffee shops and other public spaces may increase too.

Wireless charging gives you a lot more freedom with your device. Rather than being chained to a cable you can just put your phone or other device on a charging surface. No more searching for your charger or fiddling around plugging it in. Longer term it could also mean wireless charging abilities being built into tables and desks, so simply putting your phone down on them will charge it.

The future's wireless

Right now there are three wireless charging standards: Power Matter Alliance (PMA), Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and the Wireless Power Consortium's Qi - and the former two have now teamed up.

Previously any wireless charging solution would generally only be certified for one of those standards, but now it will be possible for them to incorporate technology from both PMA and A4WP.

PMA has developed the Open Network API, which can turn individual charging spots into a global wireless power network, while A4WP has created the only wireless charging specification which uses magnetic resonance, a technology which enables devices to be charged without being in contact with anything.

So now the two companies will be able to share those technologies and anything else they develop, meaning that they can all potentially be supported by devices, making wireless charging devices more adaptable. It should help usher in the next generation of wireless chargers and bring us one step closer to a wire free future.

• Wondering why wireless charging is the way forward? Here's the answer.

Vaio not viable: Sony ditches PCs for mobile

Just hours after the rumours started swirling, Sony has confirmed that it is kissing goodbye to PC and selling off its Vaio computer division.

Sony's PC business will be sold with Vaio to Japan Industrial Partners. This means Sony will end "planning, design and development" of its PC products, with the final agreements to be inked by the end of March.

The reason? Sony said that "drastic changes in the global PC industry" are at least partly to blame for the decision.

"The optimal solution is to concentrate its mobile product lineup on smartphones and tablets and to transfer its PC business to a new company," said a press statement from the company.

Sayonara, Vaio

Instead, Sony said that it will focus on smartphones and tablets. The company also confirmed that it's turning its TV arm into a standalone subsidiary as part of its shake up.

Unfortunately it'll also be cutting 5,000 jobs worldwide. Meanwhile JIP will hire between 250 and 300 Sony employees and begin selling Vaio-brand computers in Japan.

All the news came as Sony announced its Q3 financials, where it said it had seen a year-on-year boost in mobile, but still forecast an overall painful net loss of 110bn yen.

• There was once a time when Steve Jobs wanted Mac OS X to run on Vaio hardware.

Rovio's Angry Birds Star Wars II Flings to Mobile September 19

Can't get enough Angry Birds in your gaming diet? We find that hard to believe, but just in case, Rovio is planning to launch Angry Birds Star Wars II on September 19, 2013. The upcoming Angry Birds Star Wars title will take on the prequels, a path that opens the door to over 30 new characters, all of which you'll be able to play, Rovio says. And new to this edition, you'll have the option of joining the Pork Side.

There will be new levels, challenges, and abilities, of course, but also a toy tie-in that you can use with your phone or tablet.

"To compliment this wide lineup of characters, there will also be a line of over 30 collectable Telepods figures from Hasbro," Rovio said. "Placing these figures onto your phone or tablet camera will scan your character of choice directly into the game, allowing you to select new characters on the fly."

Might Jar Jar Binks may an appearance? Rovio at this point says it's declining to comment on rumors or speculation that he'll be in the game, so your guess is as good as ours.

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The Top Mobile Network Challenges That Will Make or Break Operators

by Lyn Cantor

For communications serviceproviders, 2013 is shaping up as a year of momentous change for mobile serviceproviders. The world is now shipping more smartphones and tablets than PCs, yetoperators struggle each quarter to turn a profit on voice and SMS service. As a result, they’re seeking to emulatethe practices of over-the-top (OTT) applications — even partnering with or acquiringthose companies in some instances.

At the same time, this consumerdemand for mobile technology poses new challenges that the savvy mobileoperators will convert into opportunities to monetize its services and boostcustomer loyalty.

There are five challenges thatare redrawing the industry landscape. The operators who become the mostproactive in addressing these developments are certain to become the favoritesof customers and the leaders in the mobile industry.

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