It’s one of those things at CEDIA Expo 2019 that you’d never make money on, but you’re bound to want a dozen or so for yourself, and a couple dozen more for friends and family.
From 4AMPS comes a series of retrofittable faceplates that slide over electrical outlets, sucking power from the existing terminals and feeding it to whatever device needs charging.
You’ve probably seen similar products that power night lights on the faceplate itself, or else smart devices plugged into an on-board USB port.
But 4AMPS products are special. They do offer the garden-variety faceplates-with-a-USB-port (up to four on a single faceplate). But the super-cool models feature retractable cords that pull out of the faceplate and snap back into the cavity.
4AMPS calls its 4A-WCC2 charger with integrated cord the “world’s first all-in-one in-wall USB charger.” The unit ($35) fits over any standard North American electrical outlet, according to the company. A three-foot integrated retractable cord has dual charging heads for Lightning and USB-C.
“Very high power (up to 24 watts) means fastest charging for compatible phones, tablets, laptops,” the company claims.
Wi-Fi is incorporated into the device to serve as an access point and for “IoT connectivity for over the air control and updates.”
The company sells direct to consumer but seeks distributors and (presumably) white-label partners.
