Bluetooth Taps Wibree For Low Power Uses

Nokia said Tuesday its Wibree technology is becoming part of the Bluetooth standard, meaning the ultra low power technology will likely see much broader adoption as a result.

Wibree offers Bluetooth-like performance at up to 10 meters (30 feet) at a speed of up to 1Mbps, and operates in the 2.4GHz band. Nokia has been developing the technology in its labs since 2001.

Wibree finds uses in smaller devices because of its low power requirements. Nokia and Bluetooth said the technology could make its way into watches and toys, and well as healthcare and entertainment devices to be easily added to a mobile network.

Nokia had been attempting to open up development of Wibree since October of last year. Initially it had marketed the offering as a competitor to Bluetooth because of its power requirements. However, Wibree will now fill a hole in the Bluetooth offering.

"Our members have been asking for an ultra low power Bluetooth solution," Bluetooth SIG executive director Michael Foley, Ph.D. said. With Nokia's innovative development and contribution to the Bluetooth specification with Wibree, we will be able to deliver this in approximately one year."

Analysts see a large potential market for Wibree. By 2012, ABI Research says as many as 809 million devices could have been shipped, constituting a $432 million USD industry.