Bluetooth SIG embraces WiFi for transport
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has decided to create protocols that will enable Bluetooth to use WiFi as it waits for ultra-wideband technology to develop in handsets. The Bluetooth SIG decided in 2006 to use UWB as an optional high-speed transport for Bluetooth. UWB has theoretical speeds of 480 Mbps and uses less power than WiFi. But UWB devices are still about two years away so the Bluetooth SIG decided to use WiFi alongside UWB as a stopgap measure. The move makes sense as a number of handset players are incorporating WiFi in devices.
To find out more about the Bluetooth SIG's plans for WiFi:
- read this Techworld article
Related articles:
SPOTLIGHT: Bluetooth SIG unveils TranSend
Bluetooth vendors face major patent battle
Comments (1) | Post a comment
Comments
Posted by Kari Hernandez | November 2, 2007 - 5:22pm
This posting is not entirely true. Please see the following statement from Mike Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG, on this topic. You can also find this at https://www.bluetooth.org/mikesblog/.
November 1, 2007
Bluetooth Technology High-Speed Solution
Recently there have been some stories published by media regarding the roadmap for Bluetooth wireless technology which have generated questions. I’d like to take this opportunity to answer those questions publicly. In 2008 the Bluetooth SIG intends to release a new specification to enable high-speed applications. Architecturally this will be accomplished by a feature we call the Generic Alternate MAC/PHY or AMP for short. This feature defines how different transports can be utilized by the Bluetooth profiles. As the name implies, this is a generic feature for which any MAC/PHY can be plugged into the system. This allows existing as well as future MAC/PHY to be easily integrated into Bluetooth.
However, the AMP alone is not enough to enable high-speed applications. There must also be specific technologies under the AMP. Currently work is underway in the Bluetooth SIG to define how UWB and 802.11, two independent MAC/PHYs, can be plugged into the AMP and utilized as high-speed channels. The current plan is to release specifications for both of these technologies along with the AMP in the Seattle core release late next year. Of course industry and market conditions are continually being monitored and analyzed. As with all features on the roadmap for Bluetooth they are subject to change reflecting this analysis.
