ST. LOUIS — Energizer Holdings Inc. has introduced what the company said is its first inductive charger built with Qi technology, the new universal charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC).

Widely anticipated and deemed one of the most compelling developments in charging technology, Qi (pronounced chee) will enable consumers to charge smartphones, MP3 players, cameras and any device 5 watts or less on a single charging station, regardless of manufacturer, Energizer said Thursday in announcing the Energizer Inductive Charger.

"We believe that a universal standard is the future of charging, and by leading the way with one of the first Qi products — the Energizer Inductive Charger — we are meeting a clear need for a product that makes charging devices easier by eliminating cords and clutter," commented Jim Olsen, vice president of marketing for Energizer North America.

According to market research firm iSuppli, Corp., shipments of electronic products with wireless charging capability are projected to increase from 3.6 million units in 2010 to 234.9 million units in 2014. As a result, an open, standardized system would spur global compatibility.

Designed in cooperation with WPC co-founder ConvenientPower, the first generation of the Energizer Inductive Charger is designed to conveniently charge up to three devices at one time. It features two large inductive charging zones that don’t require locking the device into a precise position, so consumers can simply set down their phone and be sure that it will be charged and ready to go. It also has a USB port so it’s easy to charge an additional device such as a phone, headset, MP3 player, camera or GPS. Two LED charge lights indicate that the device is charging.

The Energizer Inductive Charger will be introduced with a Qi Sleeve for the iPhone 3GS/3G and a one-time replacement Qi Door for the BlackBerry Curve 8900, so consumers can enjoy the convenience of Qi right away, according to Energizer. Soon, consumers can expect to have Qi built right into many of their devices, the company added.

"As one of the first to market with a Qi device, we want to make it easy for consumers to experience how easy and convenient it is to charge their devices using this new universal standard," stated Olsen. "We focused on accessories for popular smartphones, but anticipate that it will not be long before manufacturers roll-out devices with Qi built right in."

The Energizer Inductive Charger is slated be available at retail this October at a suggested retail price of $89. The removable Qi sleeve for the iPhone 3GS/3G and the Qi door for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 will be sold separately for $34.99 each.