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Bluetooth Evolution Conference (4) : Low Power *doesn't* mean very short range
November 02, 2007
A short one this. Day two of the conference focused on the new Ultra Low Power (please, let's get a better name for it than that...) version of Bluetooth coming down the tracks, based on Nokia's WiBree technology. Mentioned here before, this technology is designed to handle Machine to Machine scenarios with ease, and will wireless-enable a new generation of watches, switches, sensors and industrial machinery with potentially profound effects (more on this later).
After an excellent introductory talk in the morning by Mirjam Hirvonen from Nokia, Nick Hunn of EZurio made a small-but-crucial comment to the audience. I'll paraphrase:
People often think of ULP/WiBree as "very short range" wireless (like, 2-3 meters). That's not necessarily correct. For example, a sensor with ULP could communicate with other devices within a 50 meter range, once every minute, for three years, on a single button cell battery. The same device could communicate with devices up to 5 meters away, every 5 *seconds*, also for three years. The kinds of applications enabled by this capability is quite mind-boggling.
Just thought I'd pass that on - as I think it's quite an important insight regarding ULP / WiBree Bluetooth, that's not obvious at first when you review the blurb. Moe anon about the kinds of applications this could unleash. As usual, I'm quite excited! :-)
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