Swich wireless charger base looks for funding via Kickstarter

By John Callaham
published

A company called Lutman Design is seeking funds, via a Kickstarter campaign, for Swich, a wireless charger base for smartphones that use the Qi standard. Many of the Windows Phone devices made by Nokia, like the Lumia 1520, support Qi-based wireless chargers.

Lutman claims that Swich is different than other charging stations due to the way smartphones can be used while connected to the stand. It states:

We designed a visually attractive and highly usable stand that enables you to place your phone under a viewer-friendly angle. It positions the device firmly enough for you to use all the buttons and slide over the touch screen, while your phone charges cordlessly.

The Swich will use ceramic materials for the bottom of the charger as well as the smartphone base, with the middle stand made out of American dark walnut. Microsuction tape will be used to hold the smartphone in place.

The company is looking to raise a relatively modest $25,000 to begin production of the Swich and so far they have raise well over half of that amount with 24 days to go in their Kickstarter campaign. A pledge of $140 will be enough to get one of the Swich units, and the larger reward tiers offer black, white and even gold and silver plated versions of the stand.

What do you think of the Swich and do you think it will be a solid wireless charger for your Qi compatible Lumia smartphone?

Thanks to Chis C for the tip!

Source: Swich on Kickstarter

John Callaham
John Callaham
38 Comments
  • I'd be concerned that the tape would lose adhesion with time, or might not work with certain cases or curved phones.
  • This microsuction tape can be cleaned easily with water. I have a ($20...) charge cube that works the same way. The main problem I have is that the back of my ATIV S comes off instead of the tape when I pull it off...
  • In addition, when s phone is on vibrate, it will dance right off even with adhesion after a few missed calls.
  • I have a "sticky" holder in my car, and it has absolutely no problems keeping the phone in place even when I hit speed bumps too hard. Just have to rinse it in water every other week or so.
  • Is there a clear strategy for Qi proliferation from Microsoft.  Yes I know some Lumia products use it, more than many other brands.
  • Hope Microsoft too continue to deliver products with Qi tech... It's a shame of they don't.. A step back that is.
  • Microsoft could benefit from joining forces with Google to expand Qi as well, the Nexus phones also use Qi
  • Joining forces? After what google did to Microsoft on youtube app.. Doubt they will.
  • I rather had a stand like the Surface kickstand. Don't like the design.
  • It looks okay but I'd prefer the Nokia charging stand any day of the week
  • I think it looks modern and artsy. Might donate a few dollars
  • Way too expensive for what it is. I mean... It's just a charger after all.
  • I was hoping it would allow swapping between pma or qi as needed
  • What I'd really like is an in car charger like the Nokia Cr 200, but one that connects to my phone with Bluetooth and plugs into the audio auxiliary connector that a traditional moblie phone dock connects to.
  • You need something like this along with any wireless charger for your car
    http://www.flipkart.com/leoxsys-lb1-usb-adapter/p/itmdqgkhjyctysyt?pid=U...
  • Thanks that looks like a good option.
  • Its too expensive. You could buy a 630 for that price ...
  • The 1520 supports Qi?
  • Yes
  • Not the att version.
  • To much money
  • While this is an awesome looking design, the Tylt Vu offers the same functionality at half the price. Plus, its been a real thing for at least a year....
  • I might be interested at $40. $140 is laughable.
  • +40
  • From what I can see in the picture, it looks like any phone would just slip off when you placed it on the charger.
  • Did you read the whole article? It explains how it works.
  • I read the article, but I don't see how it'll keep a phone on it without some sort of stopper on the bottom edge of the phone platform. I feel like I'm overlooking something though, I just read the article two more times and I feel like I'm missing something.
  • Microsuction tape. The phone basically sticks to it.
  • It is way too much. Also I'm a little disenchanted with many of these kickstarter tech projects that take far too long to come to fruition. I ordered what should be relatively simple Surface Ears that redirect the speakers to the front and they still are in testing phase or whatever.... :\
  • Ears, the Agent Smartwatch which is never going to get off the ground now that Moto 360 is coming, Ouya, and countless other flops i really wanted or participated in. I'm really burnt out on kickstarting.
  • There are startups out there developing charging technology that can charge a phone through a wall. I'd rather see them get funding. 
  • Ceramic and wood? Trying to be too classy and upmarket for the average user.
  • Seems like a super expensive, based off of the kickstarter pledge, to be lazy and not plug in the phone. What would be useful is if the plug that goes into the charging plates were micro USB so we could still plug in the phone if needed and do so easily. I find playing with the phone and holding the plate behind is somewhat awkward. It would be the best of both worlds, wireless most of the time but charging with the wire when needed.
  • This device seems a little too expensive, I certainly wouldn't buy it.  The whole PMA vs. Qi thing is pretty terrible for consumers.  ATT and Starbucks are both on the PMA board so the Starbucks wireless chargers will all be PMA and future phones from ATT will be PMA.   The 925 I have doesn't use any built-in method but has the ability to add it via cases, which is kind of a pain.  I modded an Incipio case to use Qi and purchased a PMA case but it's way too bulky.  
  • I will stick with my Lego charger and a cord. $140 is far to expenisve of a starting point.
  • Waay too expensive for a phone charger. We're not Apple users ;-)
  • I'll stick with my $10 dt-910 qi wireless charging stand...
  • It gives you one angle and one height. Don't care