Data connectivity in mobile phones can be achieved in two ways. The first option is with the help of the mobile service providers by employing data transfer technologies such as general packet radio service (GPRS), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution, high-speed downlink packet access, and so on. The other is via technologies that do not require the involvement of mobile service providers, such as Bluetooth, universal serial bus (USB), infrared, and Wi-Fi, thereby enabling connectivity between mobile phones or personal computers (PCs).
The importance of the second option has increased significantly in the recent past, mainly due to the rise in memory storage capacity of the mobile phone, up to 8 GB, thereby facilitating the storage of a larger number of files.
In order to move data on and off a mobile phone, the present generation of mobile phones largely makes use of Bluetooth for short range wireless connectivity and USB for wired connectivity. But what will the future look like? This is an interesting question as high data rate wireless communication technologies are emerging. The protocols and technologies for connectivity in the future mobile phones could be the ones based on ultra-wide band (UWB) and Wi-Fi.
The current version of USB and Bluetooth are anticipated to be present in a rather different way in the future. USB, the most popular wired connectivity solution at the moment, is expected to take the wireless path to become 'certified wireless USB', and the future generation of Bluetooth will be seen in the form of Bluetooth 3.0.
What these solutions have in common is UWB, since certified wireless USB and Bluetooth 3.0 are estimated to work on UWB and are based on the WiMedia Alliance's UWB common radio platform. These technologies based on UWB are aimed at high data rate applications in excess of 480 Mbps.
Besides these technologies, Nokia has announced its motive of developing Wibree, a low power-based connectivity solution between mobile devices or PCs, and small, button cell battery power devices. Also, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has shown interest in implementing Wibree as an ultra-low power Bluetooth technology.
In addition to the existing connectivity protocols - USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and irDA - there are another three possible protocols: wireless USB, Bluetooth 3.0 and Wibree. Therefore, there could be seven possible ways to establish connectivity between mobile phones and other devices.
It is estimated that a wired USB solution would still be present in spite of the emergence of the various wireless-based connectivity solutions. The future of infrared connectivity does not look good and might disappear mainly due to its weak characteristics of low data rate and line of sight. The battle for short range wireless connectivity solutions could heat up with the presence of Wi-Fi, Wireless USB, and Bluetooth.
Since wireless USB and Bluetooth 3.0 are expected to run over UWB, the time to market will be crucial for both. Wireless USB appears to be leading the race at the moment in terms of chipset production, as chipsets compliant with Wireless USB 1.0 are expected to hit the market in large volumes by the end of this year. There has been a steady increase in the number of mobile phones that have Wi-Fi on them, despite its tag of having high power consumption.
If solutions based on UWB make it into the mobile phone, it could pose a severe threat to the existence of Wi-Fi in the same. Since UWB is a low-power, high data rate solution, it is perhaps the best solution for the mobile environment that is battery powered.
It is therefore expected that the wired USB will coexist with more than one wireless connectivity technology in the future, with one of them a UWB-based solution.
For more information contact Patrick Cairns, Frost & Sullivan, +27 (0)21 680 3274.
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