Originally posted on 425Business
Ossia, one of the Eastside’s many promising tech startups, has been developing wireless battery-charging tech on the Eastside for the past 11 years. Today, the company announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized Cota — the technology that delivers wireless charging at a distance — to be marketed and sold in the U.S.
“This certification is a meaningful step toward achieving our vision of powering the future through Cota Real Wireless Power,” Ossia CEO Mario Obeidat said in a statement. “Not only does it validate the safety and effectiveness of delivering wireless power at a distance, it paves the way for the enablement of billions of devices and sensors in the future that cannot be wired or supplied by batteries. Importantly, it is the first to do so for real-world environments where people can be present in the charging area.”
Obeidat explains the function of Cota by comparing it to Wi-Fi, also once a groundbreaking technology. Cota involves a transmitter that connects with electronic devices at a distance to charge them constantly and without wires. Just as we have come to rely on Wi-Fi, Obeidat believes that Cota will be quickly integrated into our fast-paced and tech-driven lives.
The news of the approval by the FCC for the tech to be marketed and sold is big: It means that Ossia devices may be on the market through commercial partners as early as 2020. The FCC certification comes after months of collaboration between Ossia and the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) and indicates both effectiveness and safety. Because Cota transfers power in a way that avoids passing through objects and humans, it is the first technology of its kind to meet FCC exposure standards.
This initial certification covers one specific kind of Cota transmitter; Ossia will continue working closely with the FCC, as well as with international organizations, to obtain further certification for additional devices.
“We envision that Cota wireless power will positively impact billions of lives around the world as a critical enabler of existing and emerging technologies, including 5G and the Internet of Things,” Obeidat said. “We are committed to continuing our collaboration with the FCC and the OET to bring the full range of wireless power at a distance to the broader market to enable our 5G economy.”
Ossia was featured last year as one of 425 Business’s game-changing startups; read more here.
