Wireless charging has appeared as a feature in a number of mobile devices over the past two years, but consumers have yet to largely embrace the benefits of such systems. This could all change in the coming years, however, propelling wireless charging into billion-dollar territory.

Market research firm IHS today issued a new report predicting that sales of wireless power transmitters will top $8.5 billion in 2018. This represents a massive increase over the estimated $216 million spent on such devices last year. Even this coming year the segment is projected to increase 264% year-over-year to $785 million in sales.

The cause of this surge in interest is likely because technical hurdles encountered to marketing the technology are quickly resolving. ABI points out that just this month the Alliance for Wireless Power and the Power matters Alliance have agreed to partner on a common standard for wireless charging. This consolidation will lead to a greater adoption of wireless charging in mobile devices. The technology has already been seen in high-end smartphones such as Nokia’s Lumia devices and Google’s Nexus line.

“Makers of smartphones and tablets increasingly are integrating wireless power functionality directly into their products,” said Ryan Sanderson, principal analyst for wireless power at IHS. “Meanwhile, conflicts over standards are being resolved, removing a major barrier to widespread adoption. For consumers, this means easier charging of their mobile devices and the elimination of pesky power cables.”

ABI predicts that loosely coupled technology will soon be commonly used in wireless power solutions, leading to easier infrastructure adoption. In addition, multimode solutions in the near future will allow customers to wirelessly charge without worrying about charging specifications.

Image via Nokia