Apple just announced its first smartwatch Apple Watch, which will hit the market on April 24. Though it combines the MagSafe technology with inductive charging that exclusively supported for Apple users, it is still an application of wireless charging. Plus, Galaxy S6, the lastest flagship from Samsung supports WPC Qi standard, which is a boost for wireless charging.

According to a research firm IHS, global revenue this year from shipments of wireless power receivers and transmitters in wearable applications will surge to more than $480 million, up from just $15 million last year, as shown in the attached figure. By 2019, wireless charging in wearables will generate revenue exceeding $1 billion.

Eyeing on the wireless charging market and seizing opportunities, Taiwanese IC providers, MediaTek, Generalplus, ENE Technology Inc., Richtek, and Holtek have devoted into developing wireless charging products one after another. Nuvoton recently has become a WPC member, stepping into fostering the wireless charging technology.