Nokia has launched a new local connectivity technology for small devices like watches, wireless keyboards, toys and sports sensors. Rather than replacing other such technologies (like Bluetooth), it is meant to complement them. Wibree technology complements close range communication with Bluetooth like performance within 0-10 m range and data rate of 1 Mbps. Wibree is optimized for applications requiring extremely low power consumption, small size and low cost. Wibree is implemented either as stand-alone chip or as Bluetooth-Wibree dual-mode chip.
Nokia and its partners expect to have the first commercial version of the standard available in Q2 2007 with products following shortly thereafter.