Nokia Unveils Wibree, Short-Range Wireless Tech

Wibree would provide a connection link with speeds up to 1 Mbps at a distance of up to 30 feet. According to Nokia, Wibree can be implemented as a standalone solution or as a Bluetooth-Wibree module. Nokia see Wibree as a perfect fit for mobile phones, watches, wireless keyboards, sports and medical equipment as well as children’s toys.

While Wibree can operate in conjunction with existing Bluetooth networks, it uses a different frequency band - 2.4 gigahertz as opposed to 6 gigaherz

"Wibree technology is an important development that opens up new market opportunities and a whole new range of possibilities for mobile users.Our aim is to establish an industry standard faster than ever before by offering an interoperable solution that can be commercialized and incorporated into products quickly," said Dr. Bob Iannucci, head of the Nokia Research Center.

The question, for some, was how Wibree will fit in with the existing short-range wireless technologies already in place, including ZigBee, a command-and-control technology; NFC, which is being used for wireless smart-card commerce