Wibree forum merges with Bluetooth SIG
June 12, 2007
Bluetooth technology expands for ultra low power PAN applications with Nokia's Wibree
Bellevue, WA, USA and Espoo, Finland - The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the more than 8,000-company strong trade association responsible for advancing Bluetooth wireless technology, joined Nokia today in announcing that the Wibree forum, the group specifying the Nokia developed ultra low power wireless technology, will be merged with the Bluetooth SIG.
With this announcement, the Wibree specification will become part of the Bluetooth specification as an ultra low power Bluetooth technology. Because Wibree addresses devices with very low battery capacity and can be easily integrated with Bluetooth technology, it will round out Bluetooth technology's wireless Personal Area Networking (PAN) offering and strengthen the technology's ability to provide wireless connectivity for smaller devices.
"By including or referencing other wireless technologies like ultra wideband for high speed applications, near field communication (NFC) for association and now Wibree for ultra low power applications under the well-established Bluetooth profiles, we are opening up a host of new applications and functionality while keeping the user experience consistent," said Michael Foley, Ph. D. executive director, Bluetooth SIG. "Our members have been asking for an ultra low power Bluetooth solution. With Nokia's innovative development and contribution to the Bluetooth specification with Wibree, we will be able to deliver this in approximately one year."
Wibree's development started at the Nokia Research Center in 2001. Wibree was announced to a broader audience in October of 2006 and Nokia stated its intention to incorporate the technology and its current forum into an open, preferably existing industry forum to ensure Wibree's wide adoption.
"The development work for Wibree began when we discovered a series of interesting new use scenarios that no current local connectivity solution was addressing. Now we are happy to see Wibree become part of the open Bluetooth standard, opening new market opportunities and space to innovate for the industry," said Jarkko Sairanen, Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Nokia. "Including Wibree within an existing forum will ensure interoperability and its wide and fast adoption. The Bluetooth SIG is the optimal new home for Wibree."
To this day Broadcom, Casio, CSR, Epson, ItoM, Logitech, Nordic Semiconductor, ST Microelectronics, Suunto, Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. and Texas Instruments have contributed to the interoperability specification, profiles and use case definition of Wibree in their respective areas of expertise and will continue this work in the Bluetooth SIG working groups. Several new companies, including device, watch and access systems manufacturers will join the finalization of the specification. Once the specification is finalized, the technology will be made broadly available to the industry via the Bluetooth SIG.
"Nokia's contribution of its Wibree technology into the Bluetooth SIG as the basis for ultra low power Bluetooth specifications will continue to enhance the consumer experience of connecting to anything and anyone from anywhere with Bluetooth wireless technology," said John R. Barr, Ph.D., chairman of the Bluetooth SIG board of directors. "This new technology, as the basis of a wide range of ultra low power devices, is a commendable advancement in Bluetooth technology."
From the start, Wibree was designed to work with two implementation options - as an easily implemented extension to a classic Bluetooth radio, and as a stand-alone implementation
The Bluetooth SIG recognized the potential of Wibree to enhance current Bluetooth use cases around the mobile phone and PC by bringing very low power, sensor type devices into the fold. The ultra low power extension will allow watches and toys, as well as sports & wellness, healthcare and entertainment devices to be easily added to one's personal area network. This opens a new range of mobile possibilities for end users.
By leveraging Bluetooth technology's high consumer awareness (86 percent globally), the Bluetooth SIG's large membership and proven development and qualification programs, the ultra low power solution will be integrated faster and at a lower cost to the industry and consumers. Thanks to its innovative design, Wibree consumes only a fraction of the power of classic Bluetooth radios. In many cases it makes it possible to operate these devices for more than a year without recharging.
As stated in his March 2007 ABI Research Short Range Wireless Service, research Director Stuart Carlaw predicted a $432 milllion, 809 million device industry for Wibree by 2012. Carlaw said, "We believe [Wibree] is a unique technology that can leverage the very positive market position of Bluetooth technology in segments such as medical, sports equipment and well-being, where the total available market is extremely large and still relatively untouched."
The work of integrating the low power technology within the existing Bluetooth specification has begun and the first version of the specification is anticipated during first half of 2008.
Live audiocast
Bluetooth SIG and Nokia are hosting a live audiocast for media at 16:00 CET today, accessible at: http://www.nokia.com/press
The audiocast will include a presentation by Michael Foley, Executive Director Bluetooth SIG and Harri Tulimaa, Head of Technology Out-Licensing, Nokia. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A where questions can be submitted through the audiocast system. The audiocast will also be available on-demand approximately one hour after the live presentation terminates at: http://www.nokia.com/press
A follow up Q&A session for media will be held at 19:00 CET (13:00 pm EDT, 10:00 am PDT). Please go to https://lobby.mc.iconf.net/GCC/conferencing/partaccess.asp?ba=6 and enter meeting number 751575
If you do not have internet access and want to attend the follow up Q&A session please dial:
From the US 800 4105 734
From the UK 0800 032 4517
From Germany 089 244 43 26 33
From France 01 7099 3402
From other countries +1 800 4105 734
And when prompted enter meeting number *751575*.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.
About Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
Bluetooth wireless technology is the global short-range wireless standard for personal connectivity of a broad range of electronic devices. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths - small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. More than five new Bluetooth enabled products are qualified every working day and 13 million Bluetooth units are shipping per week. The installed base of Bluetooth devices is one billion and climbing, making it the only proven choice for developers, product manufacturers, and consumers worldwide.
About the Bluetooth SIG
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, consumer electronics, automotive and network industries, is driving development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes Promoter group companies Agere, Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, along with over 7000 Associate and Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington, U.S.A. For more information please visit www.Bluetooth.com.
The Bluetooth word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
Pictures of Wibree logo and use cases are available at www.wibree.com
Media assets (stills and video) to accompany stories about Bluetooth wireless technology are available on Bluetooth.com, hosted by The NewsMarket: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Bluetooth/br/Story/MultimediaPressPacks.aspx
Media Enquiries:
Nokia
Technology Communications
Tel. +358 7180 36147 (Europe)
Tel. +358 7180 62278 (Europe)
Tel. +1 817 891 4777 (US)
Nokia
Communications
Tel. +358 7180 34900
Email: press.office@nokia.com
http://www.nokia.com/
Press contacts for the Bluetooth SIG:
Americas
Starr Million
INK Public Relations for the Bluetooth SIG
Tel. +1 (512) 382-8981
Email: starr@ink-pr.com
Asia-Pacific
Heidy Chow
Bluetooth SIG
Tel. +852 (2251) 8717
Email: hchow@bluetooth.com
Europe, Middle East, Africa
Danny Devriendt
Porter Novelli for the Bluetooth SIG
Tel. +32 475353465
Email: danny.devriendt@porternovelli.be
Bluetooth technology expands for ultra low power PAN applications with Nokia's Wibree
Bellevue, WA, USA and Espoo, Finland - The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the more than 8,000-company strong trade association responsible for advancing Bluetooth wireless technology, joined Nokia today in announcing that the Wibree forum, the group specifying the Nokia developed ultra low power wireless technology, will be merged with the Bluetooth SIG.
With this announcement, the Wibree specification will become part of the Bluetooth specification as an ultra low power Bluetooth technology. Because Wibree addresses devices with very low battery capacity and can be easily integrated with Bluetooth technology, it will round out Bluetooth technology's wireless Personal Area Networking (PAN) offering and strengthen the technology's ability to provide wireless connectivity for smaller devices.
"By including or referencing other wireless technologies like ultra wideband for high speed applications, near field communication (NFC) for association and now Wibree for ultra low power applications under the well-established Bluetooth profiles, we are opening up a host of new applications and functionality while keeping the user experience consistent," said Michael Foley, Ph. D. executive director, Bluetooth SIG. "Our members have been asking for an ultra low power Bluetooth solution. With Nokia's innovative development and contribution to the Bluetooth specification with Wibree, we will be able to deliver this in approximately one year."
Wibree's development started at the Nokia Research Center in 2001. Wibree was announced to a broader audience in October of 2006 and Nokia stated its intention to incorporate the technology and its current forum into an open, preferably existing industry forum to ensure Wibree's wide adoption.
"The development work for Wibree began when we discovered a series of interesting new use scenarios that no current local connectivity solution was addressing. Now we are happy to see Wibree become part of the open Bluetooth standard, opening new market opportunities and space to innovate for the industry," said Jarkko Sairanen, Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Nokia. "Including Wibree within an existing forum will ensure interoperability and its wide and fast adoption. The Bluetooth SIG is the optimal new home for Wibree."
To this day Broadcom, Casio, CSR, Epson, ItoM, Logitech, Nordic Semiconductor, ST Microelectronics, Suunto, Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. and Texas Instruments have contributed to the interoperability specification, profiles and use case definition of Wibree in their respective areas of expertise and will continue this work in the Bluetooth SIG working groups. Several new companies, including device, watch and access systems manufacturers will join the finalization of the specification. Once the specification is finalized, the technology will be made broadly available to the industry via the Bluetooth SIG.
"Nokia's contribution of its Wibree technology into the Bluetooth SIG as the basis for ultra low power Bluetooth specifications will continue to enhance the consumer experience of connecting to anything and anyone from anywhere with Bluetooth wireless technology," said John R. Barr, Ph.D., chairman of the Bluetooth SIG board of directors. "This new technology, as the basis of a wide range of ultra low power devices, is a commendable advancement in Bluetooth technology."
From the start, Wibree was designed to work with two implementation options - as an easily implemented extension to a classic Bluetooth radio, and as a stand-alone implementation
The Bluetooth SIG recognized the potential of Wibree to enhance current Bluetooth use cases around the mobile phone and PC by bringing very low power, sensor type devices into the fold. The ultra low power extension will allow watches and toys, as well as sports & wellness, healthcare and entertainment devices to be easily added to one's personal area network. This opens a new range of mobile possibilities for end users.
By leveraging Bluetooth technology's high consumer awareness (86 percent globally), the Bluetooth SIG's large membership and proven development and qualification programs, the ultra low power solution will be integrated faster and at a lower cost to the industry and consumers. Thanks to its innovative design, Wibree consumes only a fraction of the power of classic Bluetooth radios. In many cases it makes it possible to operate these devices for more than a year without recharging.
As stated in his March 2007 ABI Research Short Range Wireless Service, research Director Stuart Carlaw predicted a $432 milllion, 809 million device industry for Wibree by 2012. Carlaw said, "We believe [Wibree] is a unique technology that can leverage the very positive market position of Bluetooth technology in segments such as medical, sports equipment and well-being, where the total available market is extremely large and still relatively untouched."
The work of integrating the low power technology within the existing Bluetooth specification has begun and the first version of the specification is anticipated during first half of 2008.
Live audiocast
Bluetooth SIG and Nokia are hosting a live audiocast for media at 16:00 CET today, accessible at: http://www.nokia.com/press
The audiocast will include a presentation by Michael Foley, Executive Director Bluetooth SIG and Harri Tulimaa, Head of Technology Out-Licensing, Nokia. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A where questions can be submitted through the audiocast system. The audiocast will also be available on-demand approximately one hour after the live presentation terminates at: http://www.nokia.com/press
A follow up Q&A session for media will be held at 19:00 CET (13:00 pm EDT, 10:00 am PDT). Please go to https://lobby.mc.iconf.net/GCC/conferencing/partaccess.asp?ba=6 and enter meeting number 751575
If you do not have internet access and want to attend the follow up Q&A session please dial:
From the US 800 4105 734
From the UK 0800 032 4517
From Germany 089 244 43 26 33
From France 01 7099 3402
From other countries +1 800 4105 734
And when prompted enter meeting number *751575*.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations.
About Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
Bluetooth wireless technology is the global short-range wireless standard for personal connectivity of a broad range of electronic devices. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths - small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. More than five new Bluetooth enabled products are qualified every working day and 13 million Bluetooth units are shipping per week. The installed base of Bluetooth devices is one billion and climbing, making it the only proven choice for developers, product manufacturers, and consumers worldwide.
About the Bluetooth SIG
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, consumer electronics, automotive and network industries, is driving development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes Promoter group companies Agere, Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, along with over 7000 Associate and Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington, U.S.A. For more information please visit www.Bluetooth.com.
The Bluetooth word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
Pictures of Wibree logo and use cases are available at www.wibree.com
Media assets (stills and video) to accompany stories about Bluetooth wireless technology are available on Bluetooth.com, hosted by The NewsMarket: http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Bluetooth/br/Story/MultimediaPressPacks.aspx
Media Enquiries:
Nokia
Technology Communications
Tel. +358 7180 36147 (Europe)
Tel. +358 7180 62278 (Europe)
Tel. +1 817 891 4777 (US)
Nokia
Communications
Tel. +358 7180 34900
Email: press.office@nokia.com
http://www.nokia.com/
Press contacts for the Bluetooth SIG:
Americas
Starr Million
INK Public Relations for the Bluetooth SIG
Tel. +1 (512) 382-8981
Email: starr@ink-pr.com
Asia-Pacific
Heidy Chow
Bluetooth SIG
Tel. +852 (2251) 8717
Email: hchow@bluetooth.com
Europe, Middle East, Africa
Danny Devriendt
Porter Novelli for the Bluetooth SIG
Tel. +32 475353465
Email: danny.devriendt@porternovelli.be
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