Bluetooth Group On UWB Discord: 'Oh, Well'

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a trade group comprised of Bluetooth vendors, shrugged off what has become a permanent impasse in the attempt to create a single ultra-wideband (UWB) standard for short-range wireless networking.

The group previously had said it intends to harmonize Bluetooth and UWB. However, the IEEE group tasked with harmonizing two separate UWB standards proposals folded its tent this week after being unable to come to an agreement.

By contrast, the IEEE group developing the next-generation Wi-Fi standard, 802.11n, this week harmonized three competing proposals to push the ratification process forward for that standard.

Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG noted that his group will move ahead with its attempts to harmonize Bluetooth and UWB.

"A technology does not need the IEEE stamp of approval to be successful," Foley said in a statement.He added that, ultimately, one of the standards will be adopted by the marketplace and that the group is evaluating which one it will harmonize with Bluetooth.

"The Bluetooth SIG and users of the technology demand that there be one high-rate standard to ensure interoperability and consumer satisfaction," Foley said. "The SIG is evaluating both flavors of UWB to help the market determine the most advantageous solution."

He said that the SIG is evaluating factors such as how well each technology co-exists with other technologies, power consumption and how well each technology integrates into mobile devices.