Texas Instruments is turning its attention from low-power RF ZigBee technology to the Ultra Low Power (ULP) Bluetooth wireless technology formerly known as Wibree.
It has announced that it will be developing products to bring wireless connectivity between PCs and handhelds and button cell battery devices, such as watches, sports sensors and toys.
Using its radio technology in the 2.4 GHz frequency, TI says it will meet ULP Bluetooth specifications and "drive affordable wireless connectivity into the mass market". It will be developing for both types of ULP Bluetooth: a single-mode implementation for watches, sensors and other small devices; and a dual-mode implementation for communication with both single-mode and more traditional Bluetooth enabled-devices, such as handsets.
"TI fully supports the new ULP Bluetooth open technology and recognizes the need for a radio standard that will complement Bluetooth and ZigBee wireless technology for short - to medium-range wireless connectivity," said a spokesperson at TI's low-power wireless group.
The move follows the recent merger between the Wibree Forum and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) that created ULP Bluetooth.
TI describes ULP Bluetooth and ZigBee as complementary technologies - ZigBee technology being a low-power networking technology supporting thousands of nodes, while ULP Bluetooth links a small number of nodes to devices such as computers and mobile phones.