wibree is a short range rf communication technology featuring ultra-low power consumption, a lightweight protocol stack and simple integration with Bluetooth.
Wibree ushers in the next generation of RF communications by opening up many new opportunities for wireless data links between suitably equipped mobile phones or personal computers (PCs) and coin cell battery-powered devices such as sports and health sensors.
Wibree will also extend the battery lifetime of existing wireless devices such as keyboards, mice and remote controls. Wibree’s attributes will ensure widespread adoption in many new applications where Bluetooth™ can’t be used due to its power consumption and expense, according to Nokia.
Wibree’s lightweight protocol stack and simple integration with Bluetooth™ will enable chip providers to offer cost and power-efficient Wibree-enabled Bluetooth™ “dual-mode” chips. Wibree-enabled Bluetooth™ chips offer a minimum additional cost compared to standard Bluetooth™ devices, encouraging wide scale adoption in mobile phones and PCs.
Dual-mode chips will be able to communicate with both Wibree- and Bluetooth™- equipped devices without needing dongles.
The Wibree specification group
The Wibree specification group is an association of companies working together on the Wibree interoperability specification.
This specification describes the protocol stack from the physical layer up to a set of profiles that supports specific usage models along with compliance and interoperability test procedures.
Initiated and headed by Nokia, the group currently includes Nordic Semiconductor, CSR, Broadcom, Epson, Suunto and Taiyo Yuden. All of these companies are contributing to the specification in their respective areas of expertise. The technology will be made available to the industry through an open and preferably existing forum, to be defined by the time the specification is finalised.
According to the current estimates, the first commercial version of the specification will be made available during second quarter of 2007.
Illustrative Wibree applications
Imagine a wireless keyboard and mouse with battery lifetimes exceeding one year communicating with a PC without using a fragile dongle.
Imagine a watch equipped with a wireless link communicating with both a tiny sports sensor embedded within the user’s shoe and mobile phone.
Imagine a range of personal devices communicating with mobile phones or PCs, but without the inconvenience of changing or charging batteries every week.
Imagine no longer, because Wibree, according to Nokia, will make all of these applications–and many more–a reality.
Mobile phones equipped with Wibree technology will enable a range of new accessories such as call control/input devices, sports and health sensors, security and payment devices.
These devices will benefit from the ultra-low power consumption of Wibree making possible compact, coin cell battery operated devices with battery lifetimes up to 3 years (depending on the actual application).
Wibree is also designed to offer wireless connectivity to high performance PC accessories such as mice, keyboards and multimedia remote controls.
The ultra-low power consumption of Wibree extends battery lifetimes to over a year.
More over, Wibree’s ultra-low power consumption will bring wireless connectivity to watches without compromising battery lifetime.
Imagine a tiny sports or health sensor embedded in your shoe equipped with a wireless link communicating with your watch.
Nordic Semiconductor and Wibree
Nordic Semiconductor, a pioneer in 2.4 GHz ultra-low power transceivers, became a member of the open Wibree industry initiative.
Nordic Semiconductor is aiming to sample Wibree chips during second half of 2007 having licensed Wibree technology for commercial chip implementations from Nokia.
Wibree is the first open wireless technology to specifically target connectivity between mobile devices such as smartphones or PCs and small, battery-powered devices such as watches, wireless keyboards, toys and sports sensors.
“Indeed the list of potential applications and battery-powered peripherals that could now enjoy the benefit of the wireless revolution will only be limited by the imagination of designers”, commented Nordic Semiconductor’s CEO, Svenn-Tore Larsen.
“As such, we believe the growth potential for Wibree will be truly enormous because the market continually reminds wireless companies like ourselves that consumers don’t like wires and always respond positively when a product or application is made wireless without a significant cost or inconvenience penalty–such as the need for frequent battery re-charging cycles.
“Wibree, therefore, is what consumers of compact, portable electronics devices–of which the mobile phone is the perfect example–have been crying out for.
“It will dramatically extend the wireless functionality and allow PCs and portable devices to interface wirelessly to a huge range of peripherals such as sports and health sensors.”
Thomas Embla Bonnerud, added: “The technical challenge is to ensure minimal power consumption under heavy, daily usage.
“Wibree is the first technology that combines interoperability and a lightweight protocol stack specifically designed for ultra-low power implementation. This is a field in which Nordic Semiconductor is now generally regarded as a leader and is why we as a company are a totally committed partner in enabling this new exciting market for wireless communication and to playing our part in making Wibree happen.”
Nordic Semiconductor has contributed core expertise in ultra-low power RF design to the technology. The company will continue to work with the group on the development of Wibree and its extension to a range of exciting new applications. The company will also encourage Wibree’s adoption into PC accessories enabling the next generation of wireless mice and keyboards. Nordic Semiconductor Wibree implementation is based on an existing, proven, leading edge ultra-low power 2.4 GHz architecture.
The company will extend its current proprietary product offerings to include chips with embedded Wibree protocol stacks enabling product designers to focus on building innovative solutions based on Wibree, rather than trying to solve complex RF and protocol issues.