Texas Instruments Sees Energy Savings with Bluetooth Enhancements

Event Summary

July 6, 2010 -- The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced the adoption of Bluetooth low energy technology, the hallmark feature of the Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0. In conjunction, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) announced full qualification of the Bluetooth low energy stack supporting the BlueLink and WiLink connectivity combo solutions. TI also achieved complete Bluetooth v4.0 controller qualification on the CC2540 low-power, single-mode system-on-chip (SoC) running both protocol stack and application software. TI has now certified the full set of components, including ATT, GATT, GAP, and SMP, which encompass Bluetooth protocol implementation. This milestone delivers on TI’s December 2009 promise to drive single- and dual-mode Bluetooth low energy technology support, bridging the gap between the mobile and sensor worlds. This success makes TI one of the first to achieve Bluetooth v4.0 controller and host stack certification.

Quick Take

Analytical Summary

• Current Perspective: Moderate on TI’s announcement that it has achieved full qualification of the Bluetooth low energy stack and complete v4.0 controller qualifications on the CC2540 low-power SoC, because it generates an execution proof point from its December 2009 declaration in this area. TI also benefits by leveraging work done previously on its CC2530 chipset offering, but the company’s hope for time-to-market advantages could be dashed since the advent of Bluetooth v4-based products is not expected until H1 2011 (assuming no slippage of delivery in this area), giving wireless connectivity silicon rivals a buffer to respond and refresh their own Bluetooth v4.0 support efforts.

• Vendor Importance: Moderate to TI, because it fulfills the vision that it had set forth back in December of 2009 to drive single and dual-mode Bluetooth low energy technology support to help bridge the gap between the mobile and sensor/telemetry data worlds. TI will be viewed as fulfilling this promise and as one of the first to offer standardized Bluetooth low energy capabilities.

• Market Impact: Moderate on the wireless connectivity silicon market, as the Bluetooth v4.0 low energy implementation is distinct from pre-Bluetooth v4.0 standardized silicon and, as such, makes this an emerging segment that has yet to take off. It is designed to enable the use of coin cell batteries to realize long runtimes (approaching a year) without recharging. Since TI is an active supplier to the Bluetooth OEM market, it is taking an aggressive marketing step to offer an early-to-market solution for the low energy standard as developed by the Bluetooth SIG that could still yield time-to-market advantages over rivals such as Broadcom and CSR in this area.

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