Bluetooth technology has become a pervasive element of modern society, and nearly all mobile and smartphones on the market include Bluetooth technology for connecting to headsets, speakers and other Bluetooth devices. In fact, Bluetooth.com reports that the number of Bluetooth-enabled automobiles is predicted to grow by 50 million vehicles by 2016. Despite these numbers, there are several contenders to the connectivity throne that are looking to replace Bluetooth. Here are some of the modern short-range wireless technologies that may one day make Bluetooth obsolete.
Near Field Communication
Near Field Communication, or NFC, is a collection of short range wireless connectivity technologies supported by companies like Samsung, Motorola and Sony. NFC typically requires a very small distance to create a connection, but once connected allows the sharing of data between devices via NFC tags. Tags range in complexity and operation, but the possibilities seem endless—NFC tags could contain your credit card information and allow you to pay for goods or services simply by waving your phone at a terminal. While many Sony devices such as PlayStation 4 controllers currently use Bluetooth technology, a switch to NFC by Sony could cause a tidal surge of NFC adoption. If it seems difficult to believe, consider the success of the Blu-Ray over the HD-DVD, a success in no small part attributable to Sony’s adoption of Blu-ray.
Ultra-Wideband
Ultra-wideband (UWB) is an emerging wireless communication method capable of very fast connection speed while utilizing little power. UWB can be used for wireless USB connections, high-bandwidth video streaming, and ultrafast peer-to-peer connections. UWB speeds drop drastically once the distance between devices grows more than a few meters, but Fast Company reports that the data transmission speeds of UWB can reach 480 MB per seconds. This would allow the average 1080p HD movie, which range in size from about eight to 15GB, to be downloaded in 30 seconds or less. Bluetooth data transfer speeds rarely reach more than a twentieth of this speed, so it is easy to see how UWB could one day replace Bluetooth technology in many short-range wireless communications between devices. In an age of escalating transfer speeds, it is all about survival of the fastest.
Wi-Fi Direct
Hailed by the Wi-Fi Alliance as a new networking specification, Wi-Fi Direct allows device-to-device communication in a methods similar to normal Wi-Fi communication but without the need for hotspots or access points. Wi-Fi direct has been slowly replacing Bluetooth technology in devices for nearly five years, and allows for fast transfer of data in a peer-to-peer setting at extremely fast speeds. Wi-Fi Direct has also released new optional certifications this year as well as a product development toolkit to allow developers to innovate new uses for the technology. These new certifications will allow Wi-Fi Direct enabled devices to discover one another, connect, and execute common interdevice tasks all in one simple step. If you’ve ever struggled to connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones to your iPod or a Bluetooth earpiece to your smartphone, you can appreciate how this one-button connection standard could help Wi-Fi Direct to push Bluetooth from the top of the wireless connectivity hill. User-friendly is the name of the game, and Wi-Fi Direct is the king of easy connectivity.