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AT&T Removed Wireless Charging from Lumia 1520 to Shore Up PMA

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It appears that Nokia’s decision to remove wireless charging from the version of the Nokia Lumia 1520 headed to users on AT&T was a decision actually made by the carrier. Allegedly, AT&T had Nokia remove internal wireless charging to shore up support for its own corporate backed charging standard.

While AT&T hasn’t confirmed the move through typical corporate channels, AT&T’s Director of Devices & Product Marketing Don Mooers confirmed that the carrier had Nokia add external wireless charging so that it could easily transition users to the PMA (or Power Matters Alliance) standard in an email to a reader of WPCentral.

“In an effort to move toward making this a reality for consumers worldwide, we’ve placed our support for the public ecosystem roll out led by Power Matters Alliance (PMA). The PMA continues to expand membership and is building a strong ecosystem for wireless charging. The PMA solution is already installed at leading coffee shops, airports, stadiums, restaurants, gyms and more, which enables customers to wirelessly charge their phone while on the go.”

Mooers is right about the widespread availability of the PSA standard. With support from chip-maker Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Starbucks, AT&T Mobility and others, it’s only growing in influence.

The Nokia Lumia 1520

The Nokia Lumia 1520

While AT&T has every right to force device manufacturers building handsets for its network to adhere to its standards and business practices, this saga also highlights one of the big issues facing American smartphone owners.

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have repeatedly made headlines for blocking next-generation standards that they don’t have a vested interest in. The practice is largely believed to have killed any enthusiasm consumers had for NFC or Near Field Communication based mobile payment systems – more specifically Google Wallet.

Read: Greedy Carriers Turn Google Wallet Into a Lost Dream

This isn’t the first time Nokia’s done this to a device at the behest of AT&T. It’s WPCentral’s assertion that Nokia pulled the built-in wireless charging features of the Nokia Lumia 1020 for the same reason. AT&T says it’s already working with manufacturers to include PMA support in their devices starting next year.

Users of the Lumia 1020 and Lumia 1520 won’t have to eschew wireless charging completely. Both devices allow users to charge using external charging shells. It’s not as seamless as built-in charging, but it’ll get the job done regardless.

The Lumia 1520 has a 6-inch display, and is Nokia’s first attempt at competing with other phablets like the Samsung Galaxy Note. AT&T hasn’t confirmed how much the device will cost. It also hasn’t shared final pricing.

 

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. disqusword9press

    12/12/2013 at 9:51 pm

    Choosing the best standard shouldn’t be a Mobile-Phone Service Provider’s business. Qi/PMA are nothing but a chip that goes inside the devices/smartphones, so sorting out which is the BEST is a process that is better suited for DEVICE/Smartphone makers than the CEO of AT&T.

    For better or worse, AT&T has just killed Qi-Wireless standard as we know it, and here is why: AT&T not only is the most dominant GSM Mobile Service Provider in the US, it is the second largest Mobile-Phone service provider in US, just behind Verizon. The pending merger with the Leap/Cricket Wireless, should make AT&T ever closer to becoming the largest M.Phone Provider in US, surpassing 100 Million subscribers.

    Furthermore, AT&T is almost always the first to launch new Smartphones into the market and some reason that is unknown to me; if a Smartphone is successful with AT&T, it also becomes successful with other carriers. Therefore, NO Smartphone/Device maker can afford not appeasing AT&T’s demands. So, it is not a cost effective for Nokia or Samsung to continue making (if they still are?) a same smartphone model with PMA just for AT&T and then one with Qi for T-Mobile; Nokia somewhat tried that with its new Lumia 1520 – and – now, Nokia has changed its mind rather quickly. Nokia’s global online is no-longer showing the Wireless Charger capability of its Lumia1520 global-version. In order to see the original hardware specification of Lumia 1520 (global version) with Wireless Charger which Nokia decided to delete, search “Lumia 1520” in http://www.archive.org (it might be too late, but try it).

    However, Phone/device makers always want ways to reduce the final cost of their smartphone/device after the engineering, product testing and later supporting it. Now, the war of standards (Qi vs. PMA), for the Smartphone/Device makers it is no longer about choosing the superior standard, it is just about the bottom-line $$$/FINAL COST, —and between the Qi and PMA, it is about; if you KNOW someone in the higher-ups, son, you are in!!!

    Due to the AT&T’s anti Qi-Wireless and paternal love for PMA standard (AT&T might have already notified their device/smartphone makers about the AT&T’s PMA only policy), we should see more PMA products in the CES 2014 Las Vegas, NV JANUARY 7-10. – I will be there… In the meantime if you don’t like what AT&T has done (Qi vs. PMA) sign the following petition or create a new one from the scratch – You will have my support :-) Remember, Freedom of Speech — After all, this U.S.A – GB!!! https://www.change.org/petition… via change.org

  2. disqusword9press

    12/13/2013 at 7:48 am

    Choosing the best standard shouldn’t be a Mobile-Phone Service Provider’s business. Qi/PMA are nothing but a chip that goes inside the devices/smartphones, so sorting out which is the BEST is a process that is better suited for DEVICE/Smartphone makers than the CEO of AT&T.

    For better or worse, AT&T has just killed Qi-Wireless standard as we know it, and here is why: AT&T not only is the most dominant GSM Mobile Service Provider in the US, it is the second largest Mobile-Phone service provider in US, just behind Verizon. The pending merger with the Leap/Cricket Wireless, should make AT&T ever closer to becoming the largest M.Phone Provider in US, surpassing 100 Million subscribers.

    Furthermore, AT&T is almost always the first to launch new Smartphones into the market and some reason that is unknown to me; if a Smartphone is successful with AT&T, it also becomes successful with other carriers. Therefore, NO Smartphone/Device maker can afford not appeasing AT&T’s demands. So, it is not a cost effective for Nokia or Samsung to continue making (if they still are?) a same smartphone model with PMA just for AT&T and then one with Qi for T-Mobile; Nokia somewhat tried that with its new Lumia 1520 – and – now, Nokia has changed its mind rather quickly. Nokia’s global online is no-longer showing the Wireless Charger capability of its Lumia1520 global-version. In order to see the original hardware specification of Lumia 1520 (global version) with Wireless Charger which Nokia decided to delete, search “Lumia 1520” in http://www.archive.org (it might be too late, but try it).

    However, Phone/device makers always want ways to reduce the final cost of their smartphone/device after the engineering, product testing and later supporting it. Now, the war of standards (Qi vs. PMA), for the Smartphone/Device makers it is no longer about choosing the superior standard, it is just about the bottom-line $$$/FINAL COST, —and between the Qi and PMA, it is about; if you KNOW someone in the higher-ups, son, you are in!!!

    Due to the AT&T’s anti Qi-Wireless and paternal love for PMA standard (AT&T might have already notified their device/smartphone makers about the AT&T’s PMA only policy), we should see more PMA products in the CES 2014 Las Vegas, NV JANUARY 7-10. – I will be there… In the meantime if you don’t like what AT&T has done (Qi vs. PMA) sign the following petition or create a new one from the scratch – You will have my support :-) Remember, Freedom of Speech — After all, this U.S.A – GB!!! hthttps://www.change.org/petitions/please-tell-at-t-to-stop-its-monopolistic-and-abusive-actions via change.org

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