Nokia announces new wireless tech

By Simon Aughton

Posted on 4 Oct 2006 at 12:55

Nokia has unveiled a new short-range wireless technology designed to extend Bluetooth-style connectivity to small devices such as watches, wireless keyboards, toys and sports sensors.

Developed by Nokia Research Center, Wibree is optimised for devices requiring extremely low power consumption, small size and low cost, where Bluetooth may not be feasible.

The technology boasts Bluetooth performance levels and can be implemented either as standalone chip - in the very smallest devices - or as Bluetooth-Wibree dual-mode chip.

Nokia is aiming to have technology available as soon as possible and is currently working with a group of semiconductor manufacturers, device vendors and qualification service providers to define the Wibree interoperability specification by the second quarter of 2007. The technology will be made broadly available to the industry through an open forum in the hope that this will encourage widespread adoption.

'Wibree technology is an important development that opens up new market opportunities and a whole new range of possibilities for mobile users,' said Dr Bob Iannucci, head of the Nokia Research Center. 'Our aim is to establish an industry standard faster than ever before by offering an interoperable solution that can be commercialised and incorporated into products quickly.'

Wibree operates in the 2.4 GHz band with physical layer bit rate of 1Mbps and a link distance of up to 10 meters. Broadcom, CSR, Epson and Nordic Semiconductor have already licensed the technology for commercial chip implementation.

For more information go to wibree.com.

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