You know that feeling when your smartphone flashes “connect charger” at you but all the outlets in the cafe are being used? Well, thanks to Israel’s Powermat technology, Americans are already enjoying the convenience of recharging their mobile devices by simply laying them on a table.

Powermat Technologies is running pilot programs with airports, caf?s and fast-food joints in the US to make “dead battery anxiety” a thing of the past.

Starbucks recently unveiled Powermat wireless charging in some 200 of its stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company says that the November 19 launch is the first step in Starbucks’ strategic plan to offer Powermat throughout its US locations, and to explore rollouts in Europe and Asia within the year.

“We are thrilled to offer our Bay Area customers the next level of convenience with Powermat wireless charging. This first market installation is a first step towards a national deployment of this amenity in our stores,” said Adam Brotman, chief digital officer at Starbucks.

By Sarah Israel Press/www.israel21c.org