Nordic Semiconductor unveil innovative Bluetooth Smart products

Nordic's booths will host numerous static and interactive demonstrations of Bluetooth Smart technology based on the company's proven nRF51 and recently-launched 64MHz ARM Cortex-M4F microprocessor-powered nRF52 Series BluetoothSmart SoC. Key applications include smart home, IoT, smartwatch technology, wireless charging and remote control. In addition, the company will showcase Software Development Kits (SDK) such as the nRF5 SDK, an IoT design tool that uniquely allows developers to commission Bluetooth Smart end node 'things' to an IPv6 over Bluetooth Smart network from a smartphone app and reference designs such as the nRFready Smart Remote 3, an advanced Bluetooth Smart remote controller.

Furthermore, partners which have designed innovative Bluetooth Smart-based products using Nordic's nRF51 and nRF52 Series SoCs will demonstrate and talk about their developments on the booth. The partners include:

(Demonstrations on February 22)

• BeKey SmartLock is a wirelessly-operated lock that can be fitted to the inside of most existing and new doors, allowing the user to open the door using an electronic key via Bekey's app on their iOS or Android Bluetooth Smart Ready smartphone or tablet;
• SFTY is a home safety unit comprising a Cloud-connected smoke and motion detector network.

(February 23)

• BlooLoc is a solution for accurate (better than 1m) indoor localisation for applications such as venue navigation, person and asset tracking, and flow analysis for retail. The company's solution is compatible with Apple iBeacon and BlooLoc's low investment and operating cost makes it suitable for small shops and large venues such as malls and airports; 
• Gill Electronics will showcase its resonant wireless power solutions. The company's wireless charging technology allows for convenient access to power and a unique user experience. TesLink wireless power solutions are designed for use in the consumer electronics, transportation, hospitality, furniture, infrastructure, and medical markets

(February 24)

• Atmotube constantly monitors the environment, accurately measures air pollution, and wirelessly transmits the results to a smartphone app;
• Wirepas is a low cost, fully developed ULP wireless mesh networking solution targeting IoT applications.

(February 25)

• ŌURA ring measures and analyses body movement to learn about the user's lifestyle. It communicates its observations and suggestions through a mobile app.

"MWC provides the ideal opportunity for Nordic and its partners to demonstrate that Bluetooth Smart is now a mainstream technology at the heart of key wireless applications in the smart home, IoT, personal monitoring, wireless charging and asset tracking sectors among many others," says Geir Langeland, Director of Sales and Marketing, Nordic Semiconductor. "And new developments coming later this year will add mesh networking capability--together with a range boost and an increase in bandwidth--enhancing Bluetooth Smart's position as a leading wireless connectivity solution."

Bluetooth Smart wireless connectivity is booming. In the smart home sector, for example, the wireless technology is used to connect heating, lighting, security, and other domestic appliances to automated, intelligent control systems, smartphones and the Internet. U.S. analyst ON World forecasts that by 2020, there will be over 100m Internet connected wireless light bulbs and lamps worldwide, up from 2.4m this year. And analyst MarketsandMarkets predicts that today's $20bn smart home sector will expand to nearly $59 billion by 2020.

MWC has taken place in Barcelona for over a decade. In 2015, more than 94,000 attendees came to see over 2,199 exhibitors.