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“We have to make our products consumable by wearable makers, so that someone making a dog health monitor who wants to buy in the thousands could purchase chips and get support,” McGregor said. Broadcom is looking at working through distribution partners and offering more Web support for the small players, as well as establishing closer relationships with module makers who can offer pre-FCC certified components to wearable makers.
The company just introduced its WICED (Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices) Direct platform, which includes Wi-Fi Direct support that allows two devices to communicate over Wi-Fi without an access point or computer. The technology allows low-cost, low-power wearable devices, such as fitness bracelets, smartwatches, and health monitors, to communicate via a smartphone or tablet.
At a press event Tuesday, Broadcom showcased a few wearables and Internet of Things, ranging from a Bluetooth-enabled cooking thermometer with an app to a button-sized sensor on garments and fashion accessories that can communicate with a mobile device and enable access to product information, inventory look-up, and social sharing.
IMS Research predicts that as the Internet of Things takes off there will be 30 billion wirelessly connected devices by 2020.
