Bluetooth 3.0 to use WiFi for high-speed file transfers
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 13th 2009 9:02PM
posted Apr 13th 2009 9:02PM
Sounds like the Bluetooth 3.0 announcement on April 21 is going to finally usher in the era of high-speed short-range data transfers -- as previously hinted, the new spec will actually negotiate a quick'n'dirty ad-hoc WiFi connection between devices if it needs to move bits in a hurry, and then turn off the spigot to save power when it's done. The idea is to leverage the speed of WiFi while keeping power usage low, and we'd say it's a pretty trick solution, since most Bluetooth-capable devices also have WiFi radios (cough, Storm). Since the ad-hoc WiFi connection is managed over Bluetooth, no actual wireless network is necessary, and the switch will appear seamless to the user -- except for the sudden increase in data transfer speeds. Yeah, it's definitely slick stuff -- we're looking forward to seeing the first devices in action next Tuesday.[Via MocoNews]
I take issue with the statement that most Bluetooth devices have WiFi. Bluetooth has become common in even free subsidized phones these days, while WiFi remains a 'high-end' feature. More and more feature phones have 2 and 4GB memory card capacities, so it's already possible to have a large file on a phone that had Bluetooth, but not WiFi.
If this spec requires that a WiFi radio installed in addition to a Bluetooth Radio it will be difficult for it to become as mainstream as 2.0 is nowadays, since any device without a WiFi radio will be left out. I hope WiFi and Bluetooth are all integrated onto a single chip.
I don't see how this is a step in the wrong direction - since when have bluetooth devices been upgraded to new standards of the protocol with firmware changes?
All this means is that bluetooth will be wifi, not that it will be a hurdle in the industry, these devices are replaced too fast for it to matter.
That's a nice little nudge in the right direction for manufacturers. I'll take my sidekick 2010 with some WIFI dammit.
I wouldn't get over excited yet, you won't see these in phones for a year. Just to give you an idea, Wobbly above talks about BT2.0 being mainstream yet BT2.1 chips were released over 2 years ago.
BT3.0 will add many features, the BT over WLAN feature is just one item. On phones without WiFi radios the BT will be BT3.0 just without this feature.
All that said, the quick data burst this will enable will be great when you want to load up a movie or a bunch of MP3 to your phone.