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Bluetooth SIG Brings Bluetooth to the Smart Grid

February 25, 2010

New study group formed to examine use of Bluetooth wireless technology in Smart Grid development.


KIRKLAND, WA -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Now more than ever, technology is paving the way for the formation of clean energy initiatives including the Smart Grid. As this efficient, intelligent delivery of energy evolves, users and utilities will enter into a two-way communication model that will allow smart meters to provide real-time energy consumption data directly to the user for up-to-date monitoring. The next step in this clean energy initiative is to identify the importance and increase the use of wireless technology, specifically Bluetooth technology, which would allow users to remotely monitor and control their energy use.

"With the formation of the Smart Energy Study Group, the Bluetooth SIG and its member companies will work together to tackle Smart Grid technology and increase the presence of Bluetooth technology in this fast growing industry"

In order to achieve this next step and much more, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced the formation of the Smart Energy Study Group. The team, made up of three sponsoring member companies including CSR, Broadcom and Emerson, will work together to address Smart Energy initiatives sponsored by governmental entities and other organizations interested in energy management throughout the world.

"With the formation of the Smart Energy Study Group, the Bluetooth SIG and its member companies will work together to tackle Smart Grid technology and increase the presence of Bluetooth technology in this fast growing industry," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. "Wireless technology is a key component of the battle to improve the Smart Grid. With proper short-distance wireless connectivity technology, the meter-to-device relationship will be one that allows users to remotely track, monitor, and adjust their energy use based on utility scales."

The Smart Energy Study Group will begin immediately studying all aspects of the smart energy market and possible implications of Bluetooth technology in this arena. To do this, the group will review current available information on Smart Grid wireless technology, formulate a strategy for Bluetooth Smart Energy and make recommendations based on their findings.

Why Bluetooth Technology for the Smart Grid
Bluetooth wireless technology maintains a significant lead in wireless technology penetration in mobile phones—the chosen device for remote monitoring and control of smart grid meters. With the recent adoption of Bluetooth low energy wireless technology, manufacturers of in-home meters and monitors will be able to build wireless devices that run on button-cell batteries and still utilize all of the benefits Bluetooth technology has to offer.

"The formation of the Smart Energy Study Group will bring to light and expand the impact that Bluetooth technology will have on the clean energy industry," said Foley. "We have the opportunity to make a difference in the way our country and the world controls energy use and it's imperative that we do all we can to integrate wireless technology into the mix—it will not only benefit the wireless market, but it has the potential to revolutionize the clean energy market as well."

About Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Bluetooth wireless technology is the global short-range wireless standard for personal connectivity of a broad range of electronic devices. The technology continues to evolve, building on its inherent strengths—small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. This evolution now provides manufacturers and consumers with three options for connecting wirelessly—Classic Bluetooth technology for use in a wide range of consumer electronics; Bluetooth high speed technology for the transfer of video, music and photos between phones, cameras, camcorders, PCs and TVs; and Bluetooth low energy for low power sensor devices and new web services within the healthcare, fitness, security, home entertainment, automotive and automation industries. More than eight new Bluetooth enabled products are qualified every working day and more than 19 million Bluetooth units are shipping per week. There are nearly three billion Bluetooth devices in the marketplace and that number climbs daily, making it the only proven wireless choice for developers, product manufacturers, and consumers worldwide.

About Bluetooth Low Energy Wireless Technology
Bluetooth low energy is a new low energy enhancement to the Bluetooth wireless technology Core Specification that paves the way to a vast new market for watches, remote controls, and healthcare and sports sensors. It has the potential to communicate with the hundreds of millions of Bluetooth enabled mobile phones, PCs and PDAs that are shipped each year. Consuming minimal power, it offers long-lasting connectivity, dramatically extending the range of potential applications and opening the door to brand new web services. Bluetooth low energy features ultra-low peak, average and idle mode power consumption; ultra-low cost plus small size for accessories and human interface devices (HIDs); minimal cost and size addition to handsets and PCs; global, intuitive and secure multi-vendor interoperability.

About the Bluetooth SIG
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprising leaders in the telecommunications, computing, consumer electronics, automotive and network industries, is driving development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes Promoter member companies Ericsson, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, along with over 12,000 Associate and Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are located in Bellevue, WA, U.S.






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