Silicon Labs introduces Blue Gecko Bluetooth Smart solution

     Silicon Labs, a leading provider of wireless connectivity solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), has announced the launch of a complete family of Bluetooth Smart solutions designed to help developers minimize the energy consumption, cost and complexity of wireless IoT designs. Silicon Labs' recent acquisition of Bluegiga, an industry-leading provider of wireless modules and software, greatly enhances the company's ability to deliver complete Bluetooth Smart solutions.

     Silicon Labs' new Blue Gecko solution includes ultra-low-power wireless system-on-chip (SoC) chips, embedded modules, Bluegiga software development Kit (SDK), and Bluetooth Smart software protocol stack. Blue Gecko wireless SoCs and modules help developers simplify design and reduce time to market, making them ideal for applications in market segments such as home connectivity, health and fitness, wearables, automotive, consumer electronics, audio and industrial automation.

     The Blue Gecko family of products was created to address the opportunity presented by the largest and fastest growing low-power wireless connectivity in the IoT market. Forecasts from IHS Technology indicate that Bluetooth Smart will account for 42% of the total low-power wireless module and chipset market shipments by 2018. Currently, a considerable number of Bluetooth Smart chipsets are used in wireless modules to meet the needs of low-shipment IoT applications, greatly simplifying RF design. It is estimated that by 2020, when many IoT applications reach higher shipments, the use of cost-effective Bluetooth Smart chipsets and wireless SoCs is expected to exceed modules. Silicon Labs' Blue Gecko family of products offers developers great flexibility, allowing them to start with modules and then move on to SOCs with little to no system redesign.

     James Stansberry, senior vice president and general manager of IoT products at Silicon Labs, said, "Our new Blue Gecko family of products enables developers to easily and quickly enter the IoT space, allowing them to quickly bring Bluetooth Smart products to market. Development tools and software are compatible with the module and SoC chip, so if the production changes from using Bluetooth modules to SoC chips in the later stage, there is no need to purchase development tools repeatedly. "Our acquisition of Bluegiga provides the best scripting language and protocol stack for our Blue Gecko family of products, making it easy to add Bluetooth Smart connectivity to countless IoT applications."