Apple buys Kiwi wireless charging company PowerbyProxi

Apple has acquired New Zealand-based wireless charging company, PowerbyProxi for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition was first reported by New Zealand based news site Stuff.co.nz. The company founded by Auckland University student Fady Mishriki in 2007, specializes in small, Qi standard-compliant modules that allow wireless power transfer to larger devices like robots, drones, and medical equipment.

Surprisingly, this time Apple confirmed the acquisition to Stuff.co.nz with company’s senior vice president of hardware engineering Dan Riccio, saying that the "team will be a great addition as Apple works to create a wireless future.”

Fady Mishriki, PowerbyProxi founder, also said that his team is "thrilled" to be joining Apple. "There is tremendous alignment with our values, and we are excited to continue our growth in Auckland and contribute to the great innovation in wireless charging coming out of New Zealand," he further added.

PowerbyProxi is known for Proxi-Module, a modular wireless power system that can adapt and integrate into a wide variety of products and situations, delivering up to 100 watts of power to devices like drones and robots.

It is unclear how Apple will integrate PowerbyProxi into its future plans or whether Apple will shut down the company's operations. But considering that the New Zealand based company does make wireless charging modules capable of 100-watt power transfers, Apple could down the line integrate wireless charging technology into larger and more power-hungry devices like the MacBook.