Texas Instruments continues to lead Bluetooth low energy technology advancements

Full qualification of Bluetooth Version 4.0 stack and controller helps realize single- and dual-mode Bluetooth low energy technology advancements for mobile devices and sensors

DALLAS, July 8, 2010 -- The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) today announced 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 that encompass Bluetooth protocol implementation. Today's 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.

"We are pleased to see full qualification of TI's Bluetooth v4.0 stack and controller, as TI continues to play an active role in advancements around Bluetooth Core Specifications," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director, Bluetooth SIG. "This milestone further reinforces TI's commitment to the Bluetooth marketplace, and to bringing dual- and single-mode low energy devices to life across various markets."

"Inclusion of the Bluetooth low energy specification is a foundational step in extending manufacturer and consumer connection capabilities in markets like mobile health and wellness," said Rick Cnossen, president and board chair, Continua Health Alliance. "We selected Bluetooth low energy for our Continua Version Two Design Guidelines as a result of the promise behind this technology, and believe TI's Bluetooth low energy solutions will deliver exciting use cases within Continua's ecosystem."

What makes TI's Bluetooth low energy solutions unique:

• Legacy expertise in creating robust single- and dual-mode solutions
• Bluetooth low energy technology support added to proven WiLink and BlueLink connectivity combo solutions, with drop-in replacement for existing combo products
• On-chip coexistence for combo solutions, which yield size, cost, performance and power advantages
• CC2540 single-mode SoC capable of running both protocol stack and application software

More information about TI's Bluetooth low energy solutions:

• TI's Bluetooth low energy technology blog: www.ti.com/bluetoothv4-blog-pr
• TI's Bluetooth low energy technology solutions: www.ti.com/bluetoothv4-lowenergy-pr  
• TI's wireless connectivity solutions: www.ti.com/bluetoothv4-wireless-pr
• TI's related Mobile Momentum post: www.ti.com/bluetoothv4-mobile-pr

Availability

TI's Bluetooth low energy dual-mode devices are available today.  TI's CC2540 single-mode Bluetooth low energy technology solution will be widely available in fall 2010. Bluetooth v4.0-based products are expected to debut in the first half of 2011.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 30 countries.  For more information, go to www.ti.com