Bluetooth high speed and Wi-Fi Direct - winning the high-speed war

WELLINGBOROUGH, UK: Previously seen as complementary technologies, the development of Bluetooth high speed and Wi-Fi Direct brings them head-to-head for the first time. IMS Research asks: Is there room for both, or will one win?

Bluetooth high speed technology combines Bluetooth with 802.11 to increase data throughput, upgrading the well-known Bluetooth interface to download large files, synchronize music between two devices, or transfer video quickly. It has the advantage that classic Bluetooth has a huge installed base mostly in mobile handsets.

Wi-Fi Direct is a set of software protocols that allows devices enabled for Wi-Fi to communicate without prior setup, or a Wi-Fi hot spot. Wi-Fi Direct will exploit WLAN’s installed base, largely of PCs.

For Wi-Fi Direct, you simply upgrade the firmware of a single radio; Bluetooth high speed requires two radios (Bluetooth and 802.11). Wi-Fi is not naturally a peer-to-peer technology, and needs link set-up, authorization, pairing, and system discovery.

Bluetooth provides them; adding 802.11 just provides a faster link. Bluetooth high speed products have already been announced; Wi-Fi Direct is expected to be deployed in 2011. It’s currently tough to choose which technology to back.

Filomena Berardi, Connectivity Market Analyst at IMS Research commented: “Initially, Bluetooth high speed and Wi-Fi Direct are likely to co-exist in specific products. However, the faster throughput of Wi-Fi Direct will likely make it the winner long-term.”

Bluetooth will not suddenly disappear! Bluetooth low energy will mean that it will remain important in handsets and address markets such as medical, fitness, automotive, and others, that require a low power connection.

Wi-Fi is entering more consumer devices; the upgrade to Wi-Fi Direct will benefit them. The recent announcement made by the Wi-Fi and WiGig Alliance, to create the next Wi-Fi generation, suggests that Wi-Fi will be big in consumer devices. The Bluetooth SIG is expected to create a group to study a future gigabit-class Bluetooth.