Soon, CCD near you will have wireless charging facility
India's famous café chain, Café Coffee Day has started offering wireless charging pads for its customers across India. CCD has partnered with PowerSquare, a leading player in wireless solutions, and has added over 300 charging pads across cafes in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. This, as it notes, is the first step of what would be India's biggest wireless charging network.
CCD's way of keeping users 'connected'
The move from Café Coffee Day comes as a way of leveraging digital technology to enhance the in-café experience and lure more customers. It says wireless charging capabilities will keep the younger segment of its customers connected with their friends, family - all the time. Not to mention, they've also been providing free Wi-Fi at all the outlets since 2016.
Where will you find these charging pads?
As of now, some 100 CCDs in major cities offer wireless charging points but plans are already in action to expand to other metros, including Hyderabad and Pune. This would mean some 2,000 wireless charging pads in more than 350 CCD outlets across the country. According to the current model, CCD's charging modules will be installed right on the table of the cafés.
But, only select phone users will reap the benefits
Though CCD's initiative is good, only a few smartphone users will be able to reap its benefits. PowerSquare's charging pads rely on the Qi wireless charging standard, which is more common in flagships than in budget or mid-range phones. This means only high-end devices, like iPhones, could be wirelessly charged at CCD. Rest of us will need regular chargers and cables, just as always.
Qi's slow adoption rate
Qi, also pronounced 'Chee', is one of the most popular wireless charging standards. It was first introduced nearly a decade ago. Despite that, it has only been incorporated in a little over 140 smartphones till date.
