Unlike some of its competitors, Apple has been reluctant to go the wireless charging route. Microsoft Lumia (formerly Nokia Lumia) devices have had it for awhile, and Samsung has gone the whole hog on the technology with several of the newer Galaxy S smartphones/phablets. Now reports from Bloomberg suggest that Apple is working with partners in the US and China to develop its own version of wireless charging tech.

Bloomberg further says that it could arrive in 2017, but what shape this will take is a little less clear. Apple is not completely unfamiliar with wireless charging however, with the Apple Watch utilising a charging pad to get the job done. Given the fact that this wireless charging functionality is supposedly taking more than a year to reach consumers, Apple may be working on something other than a charging pad or mat.

Nevertheless, it seems Apple wants to do away with superfluous wires altogether, as the rumour mill has churned out information that the Cupertino-based company will do away with the 3.5 mm headphone jack for the yet-to-be named iPhone 7. How third-party accessory manufacturers will react to all these rumoured changes remains to be seen.