You may never need to plug in your iPhone again.
Apple has joined an industry group dedicated to wireless charging, reinforcing existing rumors that the next iPhone will charge wirelessly. The Wireless Power Consortium, made up of some 200 organizations that promote a single wireless charging standard, confirmed to CNNTech that Apple joined the group last week.
iPhone rumors circulate months before each new version is announced, and the hype around the so-called “iPhone 8” is particularly high: Manzana (AAPL) is expected to unveil a major redesign this fall to mark the smartphone’s 10th anniversary.
The company has already expressed interest in eliminating cumbersome cords. The Apple Watch charges wirelessly, provided consumers spend $79 on a magnetic charging station. And the latest MacBook comes with a single USB port.
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Apple would also create another revenue stream for the iPhone by selling a wireless charging station separately. This feature would simplify charging for smartphone owners. Rather than plugging in their phone, the user would simply place it on the charging station.
Apple said in a statement Monday that it is joining the Wireless Power Consortium to contribute ideas as wireless charging standards are developed.
As for the possible features of the next iPhone, other rumors include an edge-to-edge display, a glass body, and the removal of the home button.
CNNMoney (Washington) First published February 13, 2017: 2:42 p.m. ET