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Wibree and Bluetooth are complementary technologies. While
Bluetooth is well-suited for streaming and data-intensive applications such as
file transfer, Wibree is designed for applications where less power consumption,
small size and low cost are the critical requirements.
Nokia has introduced Wibree technology as an open industry
initiative, extending local connectivity to small devices. This new radio
technology developed by the Nokia Research Center complements other local
connectivity technologies, and consumes only a fraction of the power used by
other such radio technologies, enabling for smaller and less costly
implementations, easy to integrate with Bluetooth solutions.
It has launched Wibree interoperability specification
together with a group of leading companies representing semiconductor
manufacturers, device vendors and service providers. The technology will be made
available to the industry through an open and preferably existing forum enabling
wide adoption of the technology. The forum solution is under evaluation and will
be defined by the time the specification is finalized. The first commercial
version will be available during Q2 2007.
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Applications |
Sports and Healthcare: Sensors fixed to the human body,shoes, and other fitness gears can gather data on heart rate, distance, speed, and acceleration, and send the information to a mobile phone and/or PC for storage and further processing. Healthcare monitoring equipments and sensors in the form of Wibree stand-alone devices can send vital health related information (blood pressure, glucose level) to Bluetooth-Wibree dual-mode, which can store and process this information and send alerts to mobile phones of patients and caretakers. Office and Mobile Accessories: They will benefit from Wibree's ability to extend battery life. They can also use Wibree to avoid non-connectivity issues, which add an extra component and raise the overall cost. Entertainment: Devices such as remote controls and gaming accessories with sensor technology can use Wibree to interact with one another, enhance their |
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Wibree's design is such that it can be implemented in a
stand-alone or dual-mode. Wibree stand-alone implementation is designed for use
with applications, which require extremely low power consumption. Bluetooth-Wibree
dual-mode implementation is designed for use in Bluetooth devices. In this type
of implementation, Wibree functionality is integrated with Bluetooth for a minor
incremental cost by utilizing key Bluetooth components and existing Bluetooth RF.
It can be built into products such as watches, wireless
keyboards, gaming, and sports sensors, which can then be connected to host
devices such as mobile phones and personal computers. Wibree is the first open
technology offering connectivity between mobile devices or personal computers,
and button cell battery power devices. Wibree is designed to have a range of up
to 10 meters, and support a data rate up to 1 megabit per second, which is equal
to Bluetooth. It will operate in 2.4 GHz range.
Wibree technology can be easily integrated in Bluetooth
devices, and allows them to connect to a wide range of tiny, button cell battery
devices. Therefore, there is room for both the technologies in the marketplace,
and, in many cases, they will exist simultaneously in the form of Wibree-Bluetooth
dual-mode chip, which extends the range of devices to which both technologies
may connect.
Sandeep Budki
sandeepb@cybermedia.co.in