coffee bean & tea leaf

Nokia's wireless chargers perk up local coffee shops

Last September, Nokia kicked off the launch of its Nokia Lumia 920 with promises of exposing more people to wireless charging -- an available, but underused capability -- by bringing it to spots where people go.

Specifically, Nokia said it would sponsor wireless charging stations using the Qi protocol at Virgin America airport lounges and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf stores.

Earlier this week, I finally saw Nokia's power-promotion installed at my favorite Coffee Bean location on San Francisco's busy Market Street. What a sorry sight it was.

Market Street is a bustling downtown location, so I'm … Read more

Nokia bringing wireless charging to Virgin, Coffee Bean

Nokia is taking wireless charging one step further.

Its new Lumia 920 comes with wireless charging using the Qi (pronounced "chee") standard, which is found in other products like some BlackBerry devices and third-party inductive chargers.

Nokia knows it isn't enough to integrate Qi, but that it also has to provide the ecosystem for people to use it. To that end, Nokia has partnered with Virgin Atlantic and the coffee chain Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to begin seeding wireless charging stations in airport lounges (London's executive lounge at first) and coffee shops.

In addition, Nokia … Read more