With increasing data speeds and phone usage outpacing mobile devices’ power supply, consumers are increasingly faced with the inconvenience and anxiety of dying phone batteries. In response to this growing power consumption, ChargeItSpot, LLC. developed a charging station that enables consumers to recharge mobile devices for free at retail locations near them.
Designed by Brooklyn-based SONIC Design, the kiosks are centrally monitored and controlled with an interactive touch screen that allows customers to open and lock one of the 8 charging bays compatible with 95% of all mobile phones. Multi-colored LED lights changing from green to blue indicate that a bay is in use. Upon first use, users will be prompted to download a mobile app which in the future will alert them to nearby ChargeItSpots when their phone batteries run low. This application will also enable retail partners to offer local deals and advertise to nearby consumers with low phone batteries and gain insight from data on cross-store shopping behavior. The device is a plug-and-play, self-service kiosk. With a footprint of roughly one square foot, it only requires an electrical outlet to be up and running. Sixteen minutes of charging replenishes 20% of the battery, or 96 minutes of talk time.
Catering to very different stores and retail chains, the new kiosk design had to be customizable to compliment different brands and not to compete with merchandise or store decor. On the other hand, the charging kiosk had to draw attention to a unique and free customer service provided by the retailer. The overall design and construction follows functionality and ergonomics requirements. The exterior frame wraps fully around the kiosk creating the protective shell to securely house the lockers, the screen and the internal electronic components. The basic design is simple and classic and will fit many stores. For those retailers looking for a more proprietary and branded look, the exterior shell provides a canvas for customized finishes, colors, and graphic treatment. Adhesive printed vinyl banners can be easily applied and exchanged, whether to make the kiosk stand out or to blend in.
