Stuart Corner
Thursday, 05 October 2006 03:47
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 2
There is undoubtedly a need for a short-range wireless technology with power requirements an order of magnitude lower than Bluetooth but by going out on a limb with Wibree Nokia could end up creating a rerun of the Blu-Ray v HD-DVD debacle.
Nokia along with Ericsson, IBM, Intel and Toshiba was one of the originators of Bluetooth back in 1998 and the technology has been an undoubted success becoming the standard for short range communications for headsets, keyboards, mice etc.
Nokia and its fellow Wibree backers clearly see a need for a lower power alternative, but Wibree is based on and designed to interwork with Bluetooth, and the Bluetooth SIG has also identified and is working on developing Bluetooth to lower its power requirements.
Commenting on Wibree in his
blog, Bluetooth SIG head Mike Foley said: "One important fact that doesn't seem to be mentioned [in the Nokia press release] is that in the complex device such as a mobile phone, Wibree is built upon Bluetooth wireless technology. Wibree consists of a small extension to a standard Bluetooth radio. As such, Wibree has the potential to enhance Bluetooth use cases in the phone by bringing sensor type devices into the fold."
