The holder for the Bose portable home speaker is very handy when you have the speaker. you don't have to plug in the cable every time you want to charge the device. This increases the ease of use and the speaker is always ready to use. I myself realize that when you have to put the cable in the speaker, you do this less quickly, so that it is empty at some point and you cannot use it. By using the charging station this will never happen to you as it is easy to put it on as it doesn't matter how you put it on because it always makes contact. The charging station is a simple round disc that fits nicely under the speaker. there are 3 contact points on it and on the bottom of the speaker are 3 contact discs so that it always connects. In my opinion, the charging station is a must have if you have bought the Bose portable speaker. I do feel that it is strange that it is not included with the speaker itself and that it has to be purchased separately.