Ikea's Furniture Wirelessly Charges Your Phone

Ikea is launching wired-up desks, tables and lamps which can wirelessly charge your phone.

The company is releasing a new collection which will use Qi wireless technology to charge devices that are placed on the new furniture.

The Home Spot range will be available in Europe and North America from April, with availability around the world to follow.

Ikea's lighting and wireless manager Jeanette Skjelmose said: "Through research and home visits, we know that people hate cable mess. They worry about not finding the charger and running out of power.

"Our new innovative solutions, which integrate wireless charging into home furnishings, will make life at home simpler."

One industry analyst, Jeff Kagan, said he expected other furniture companies to follow suit.

He said: "This is (a) very early time in the furniture business to blend wireless technology.

"I expect every other furniture maker to jump on this same bandwagon."

Qi is a global wireless charging standard and allows users to wirelessly charge a device using induction transfer by placing it on top of a specially adapted surface.

In January Ikea reported annual profits of £2.43bn - unchanged from the year before.