Wireless iPhone Charger Now Available

The advent of Apple's iPhone and other smartphones has created a separate industry of peripherals that is lining the pockets of third-party manufacturers and increasing the usefulness of mobile devices. In many ways, creating a successful device in the orbit of the iPhone, BlackBerry or now, Palm Pre can be a golden ticket. WildCharge may have just had its ticket punched.

The WildCharge Adapter Skin for iPhone is a wireless charger for the smartphone, something that has been tantalizing Apple fans since the launch of the mobile device but had consistently failed to materialize. With the launch of the Palm Pre earlier this month, the lack of wireless charger became a bit more glaring.

The Palm Pre, of course, comes with a a wireless charger.

WildCharge's wireless iPhone charger has two components: the iPhone skin and charge pad. The iPhone skin is placed over the smartphone and is equipped with a contact module that, when put in contact with the charge pad, wirelessly charges the mobile device.

But there's a difference between the iPhone charger and Palm Pre wireless charger. WildCharge's product works with more than just a single device. The skin can be applied to BlackBerry, Motorola Razr and iPod Touch devices as well.

And while it wasn't Apple itself that created a wireless charger, the company -- and its faithful followers -- has taken on something of an 'anything you can do, I can do better' mentality. As more alleged 'iPhone killers' hit the market, Apple and its ecosystem of peripherals continue to adapt and outpace the competition.

The Palm Pre was released less than one month ago. One of the differentiating features between the Pre and the iPhone was the wireless charger. Within weeks, WildCharge stepped up and filled the gap for Apple.

Apple itself isn't immune to pressure from competition either -- not that the Steve Jobs crew would ever own up to that. The iPhone originally launched in the summer of 2007 without MMS or landscape capabilities -- two features that, even then, were standard on most mobile phones. The iPhone 3G was rolled out last summer the features were still non-existent.

Since the launch of the iPhone 3G, BlackBerry has gotten serious about competing with Apple. Palm revealed plans to enter the smartphone market and clearly had its sights set on the iPhone.

The upshot? The launch of the iPhone 3G S earlier this month was bundled with an upgrade to the operating system that included MMS and landscape capabilities.

Apple continues to try and stay one step ahead of its competition. But with some of the additions that the Cupertino Crew and its network of third-party vendors are making, it's clear that Apple may be glancing in the rear view mirror from time to time.

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