A recent study by the research firm ABI Research (News - Alert) titled, “Low Energy Bluetooth,” indicated that 2.5 billion Bluetooth Low Energy, or “BLE,” chipsets would be shipped by 2014.

 

BLE is a method of transmitting and receiving small amounts of data, which reside alongside existing Bluetooth software stacks on Bluetooth ICs. It can also share some key elements such as the Bluetooth radio and antenna to provide a new range of services.  

 

Much awaited BLE products are already lining up, even as the Bluetooth SIG has not yet ratified the specifications of this technology.

 

Apart from having the advantage of integrating Low Energy Bluetooth into all new Bluetooth ICs for decreased cost, the BLE can also support a new generation of real-time online applications for low-power personal devices by simply enabling mobile handsets to act as gateways to the WAN/Internet.

 

According to ABI’s study discussed the potential for the BLE alongside other offerings across a range of criteria such as functionality, applications suitability, market positioning and potential acceptance.

 

Since, BLE is supported by two different technology implementations, dual mode and single mode ICs, two modes of IC will also be produced by two different groups of vendors, with each dependant on the investment and commitment of the other. It is indicated that by next year single mode ICs will account for less than 3 percent of BLE chipset shipments.

 

Whether the BLE market will see its success will all depend on how well the players will understand the technology and its potential, ABI said.

 

“BLE will enter the market in two stages,” Jonathan Collins, principal analyst, said. “First with support for BLE embedded in mobile handsets, and then a second stage when BLE devices come to market. Key is that both dual mode and single mode suppliers are confident that each will deliver and support BLE.”

 

And, BLE will allow sensors and monitors to communicate with mobile handsets and other BLE-enabled devices using very low power communications. This benefits not only existing low power short-range applications but also new low power short-range applications such as sports and fitness equipment that will be the first devices to market. This has further potential for more serious BLE health monitoring applications.

 

According to ABI officials, more than 2.5 billion BLE chipsets will ship in next five years in a market, which will grow at 78 percent CAGR from 2009 and 2014. However, less than a third of those shipments will be for the single mode ICs.

 

Collins said that this technology would be incorporated in the Bluetooth ICs at a relatively minimal additional cost to existing Bluetooth chipset. However, BLE’s success will depend on the commitment of single mode IC vendors, who are willing to invest in producing these chipsets as well as their conviction that they will get good return from their efforts.