Wi-Fi Plus Bluetooth Coming in 2009

A new standard will allow Bluetooth devices to switch to Wi-Fi for file transfers if Wi-Fi is available, according to Michael Foley, director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. The new features should be available in 2009.

Bluetooth also is compatible with ultra-wideband technology, but Wi-Fi now is seen as important as well. It is expected that chip vendors will start putting both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions onto a single chip, instead of the separate approach now popular.

The combination devices will use the regular low-power Bluetooth radios to recognize each other and establish connections. If they need to transfer a large file, they will be able to turn on their Wi-Fi radios, then turn them off to save power after finishing the transfer, Foley says.

It's just one more detail for consumers to track.