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In a move likely to be welcomed by anyone who has tried to explain the difference between WiFi, Bluetooth and boring old FM radio to a parent or grandparent, Nokia has shuffled its fledgling Wibree wireless standard into the loving arms of the Bluetooth SIG. Announced in October 2006, Wibree was intended as a very short range, ultra-low power way of small devices and sensors to communicate without needing wires; at the time, applications such as medical monitoring, feedback from sports equipment and wireless keyboards were all vaunted as potentially benefiting from the technology.
Of course, Nokia claimed Wibree was always intended to exist side by side with Bluetooth, claiming the smaller chip was ideal for embedded devices and low-bulk transmissions. A dual-mode Bluetooth/Wibree chip was announced, although take up has seemingly remained quiet, which offered a bridge between the standard Bluetooth functionality stack and Wibree’s three profiles: watch, Human Interface Device (HID) and sensor.
Bringing it under the Bluetooth umbrella is undoubtedly a way to increase awareness of the technology, although it’s unlikely to become a key word in consumer language. Still, it’s likely that users will eventually end up benefiting with new functionality and integration, even if they don’t know that it’s Wibree they should be thanking.
Nokia Press Release [via SlashPhone]
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