The Bluetooth SIG has formally adopted the core specification for Bluetooth 3.0, which will support data rates up to 24 Mbps (compared to the 3Mbps of the current version) and reduced power consumption thanks to inbuilt enhanced power control.

Following the formation earlier this week of the TransferJet consortium to develop ultra-wideband radio technologies that will enable high speed data transfer between mobile devices, the WiMedia Alliance, an established global body dedicated to developing similar technologies, has struck up a relationship with long established ICT standards body Ecma International.

Sony is leading a consortium of 12 Japanese technology companies that has been formed to develop an ultra short range, high bandwidth wireless technology that will enable large files to be transferred between portable devices such as cellphones and digital cameras, just by bringing them close together.

The Bluetooth short range wireless technology is good because of its low power, high security and device discovery and pairing but compared to WiFi, it's really slow. Now, the Bluetooth SIG has come up with a way to get the best of both worlds.