Wireless power has been a technological dream for many years. The folks at Powercast hope to make it a reality by 2008

Radio waves carry power. In most applications, we use that power simply to carry encoded information. However, we can also use that power as power.

The trouble has always been that loss during wireless power transmission is high. If you send one amp of electricity across the room, you typically received one tenth of an amp of usable electricity on the other side.

WildCharger and Fulton Innovation are developing wireless power solutions using induction coupling. With induction coupling, the transmitter and the receiver must be very close to each other — preferably in contact with each other. This technology could enable you to charge your cell phone merely by placing it on your desk.

Powercast is taking a different approach. Powercast is using true RF transmission in the 900Mhz range. This enables wireless power transmission a distances of approximately one meter.

Powercast claims that their technology enables them to achieve better than fifty percent efficiency in power transmission. The current limitation of the technology is the amount of power able to be transmitted, just a few milliwatts. This makes the technology suitable for wireless keyboard and mice, remote controls, game controllers, and even cell phones.

The free market economy rewards companies and individuals who create products that improve the lives of consumers. It looks very much like the folks at PowerCast are soon going to be rewarded very well.