Intel Developer Forum 2005
Intel Developer Forum 2005

Wireless USB set to kill off Bluetooth

200 companies ready wireless USB devices for year-end

Iain Thomson at Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco

Wireless USB products will be in the shops by Christmas and the widespread adoption of the technology will rapidly kill off Bluetooth, Intel has claimed at its Developer Forum in San Francisco.

The wireless USB protocol will be completed by the end of March and the access controller specification should be approved by the end of the year. Wireless USB is designed to be used at ranges of less than 10 metres and will allow peak data speeds of 480Mbps.

Advertisement

"In the next 12 months we will see wireless USB products in the retail sector," said Kevin Kahn, senior fellow at Intel.

"Many companies are ready to adopt this stuff and start shipping it. Multiple silicon builders are around to provide a healthy competitive market as well."

Kahn demonstrated a USB dongle that fits into a standard USB 2 port and would make any machine with a USB port capable of using the device. Over 200 companies are due to bring out wireless USB devices.

Key to the uptake of the new technology is ease of use. Bluetooth has turned off many users due to compatibility problems, but USB is well understood and some analysts rate it as the most successful interface in the world.

"The general consumer doesn't have a clue," said Jeff Ravencroft, technology strategist at Intel. "Thirty per cent of returns to technology retailers are because of set-up problems. If it isn't easy to set up this isn't going to happen."

A website detailing the new technology can be found here.

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Tags:

Do you agree?

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

eu flag

V3.co.uk weekly debrief, 6 Nov 09

This week, Europe decides what to do with illegal file sharers

Intel unveils its micro server platform

Small-enclosure systems take aim at hosting market

IT white papers

Search white papers

Top categories

Poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

What is the biggest problem your firm faces as a result of the data explosion?

View poll results

Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Spotlight

Piracy, privacy and processing power set to be hot topics for V3.co.uk Summit

Have you got a burning desire to quiz experts from...

iPhone

World's first iPhone virus surfaces

Images of 80s icon Rick Astley spell trouble

Airvana HubBub

Airvana debuts 3G femtocell for offices

HubBub improves indoor network coverage for businesses

shopping key

E-commerce on brink of SaaS revolution

Figleaves founder argues platform-as-a-service vendor will emerge to shake up...

Primary Navigation