Get a glimpse of what's on the tech horizon with Foolish reports from the field at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show. Companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 launch and showcase thousands of products at the event, which attracts visitors from around the world.
Wireless charging is a very young industry looking to introduce a new behavioral paradigm. With cell carriers looking to OEMs to include wireless charging technology in new phones, the field is set for major growth.
There were countless trends emerging from CES 2014 this year, but the real question for investors is how to capitalize on these revolutionary opportunities. Fortunately for you, David Gardner has an idea or two on how to invest in these new emerging technologies -- and how you can profit. Get in on the ground floor now by clicking here.
A full transcript follows the video.
Austin Smith: I'm curious to get your thoughts on, I believe it was this morning or yesterday, Intel (INTC -1.03%) announced their charging bowl. It seems similar, but not maybe the ubiquity of locations that we're talking about. I don't know if you saw that product, or just have any thoughts on this space as a whole?
Scott Eisenstein: Sure, absolutely. You know what? To be honest, wireless charging is fundamentally changing a consumer behavior. People are used to plugging in their phones, people are used to a certain way of doing things, and to fundamentally change someone's behavior is a difficult thing to do.
To that end, we are a very young industry, and at this point, there's room enough for all of us. Whatever we can do to fundamentally change that behavior and to move people from doing things one way, to doing things another way and if it takes Intel, or if it takes Duracell, or if it takes anyone else to help move consumers, migrate consumers to that new behavioral paradigm, well more power to them.
Smith: What sort of a cost are we looking at here, for these rings?
Eisenstein: The rings will be given away at Starbucks (SBUX 0.53%) or there will be a nominal fee, maybe $10. It's nothing that's going to break your bank.
Smith: It's not prohibitive.
Eisenstein: No, not at all.
Smith: Wonderful. Anything else you want investors or consumers to know about wireless charging technology, and when they can expect to see it in their everyday lives, in ubiquity?
Eisenstein: Absolutely. I think that what I would want them to know is that one of our major partners, which I didn't say before but I should have, is AT&T (T 0.18%). AT&T has mandated, or sent out a request to their OEMs, that come this year -- 2014 -- that they will build wireless charging directly into the phones, so you can expect that your phones will come with wireless charging technology built into it.
That means that you won't need to have an external case, which is what we sell at www.DuracelPowermat.com, or in Best Buy (BBY 0.59%) or in any of those other stores. You won't need to enable your phone in any way. Your phone will already come equipped with wireless charging, much like Bluetooth.
Smith: Of course, with the duopoly that is AT&T and Verizon (VZ 0.15%), so goes one, so we can likely expect the other to go as well.
Eisenstein: You can likely expect every other major carrier to follow suit.
Smith: Thank you so much for your time. It looks like very, very exciting stuff. I know investors and consumers are going to be happy to see this at Starbucks and other locations, hopefully tomorrow!
Eisenstein: Thank you so much, Austin.
