A new technology combining the easy setup of Bluetooth with the high speed of WiFi will be released next week, our sister publication eWEEK.com says. Bluetooth 3.0 will apparently be compatible with some existing Windows Mobile phones (left) via a simple software upgrade.
According to the report by eWEEK writer Michelle Maisto, while Bluetooth 3.0 will not be formally announced until Apr. 21, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group SIG has already approved its specifications. A key element will be AMP (alternate MAC/PHY) Bluetooth, a revision to the Bluetooth specification targeting devices that have both Bluetooth and WiFi (802.11) radios on board.
According to the Bluetooth SIG, AMP works by taking Bluetooth's protocols, profiles, security, and other architectural elements and allowing them to "jump on top of an already present 802.11 radio." In other words, a pair of devices discover each other and shake hands using Bluetooth, but file transfers take place using the WiFi hardware layer.
AMP's promoters say the technology means users gain speed, without needing to know how to set up an ad hoc WiFi network. Once a file transfer is concluded, the WiFi radio falls silent and control passes back to Bluetooth, saving power, according to the SIG.
AT&T's LG Incite (Click image for further information)
The AMP specification was demonstrated at February's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Spain using a Windows laptop and a Windows Mobile phone (see video later in this story). The phone appeared to be AT&T's recently introduced LG Incite (right), which, like the majority of contemporary Windows phones, includes both Bluetooth and 802.11 networking.
AMP can hand off file transfers from Bluetooth to 802.11 and other radios Source: Bluetooth SIG (click to enlarge)
According to a February report by Gizmodo, a variety of current chips, including some from Broadcom, already support AMP and will require only a software upgrade to implement it. While the chips weren't named, they may include the BCM4325, which combines 801.11a/b/g with Bluetooth and an FM receiver, and the similar BCM4329.
A demonstration of AMP at February's Mobile World Congress Source: Gizmodo (click to play)
Ultimately, the AMP technique will not be limited to 802.11b, but will also be able to piggyback on higher-bandwidth, shorter-range UWB (ultra-wideband) connections, according to earlier reports. For more details, see our earlier coverage, here.
eWEEK's Maisto reports that Bluetooth 3.0 will also feature an "Enhanced Power Control" feature. This will increase the robustness of connections, and prevent unwanted disconnects caused by movements such as placing a phone in a pocket or purse, she adds.
Further information
To read eWEEK.com's story about Bluetooth 3.0, see the publication's website, here.
To read the Gizmodo item mentioned above, see here.
