Nokia Wibree - Economics
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The first thing we should look at is that this could be a potentially profitable venture for Nokia. Ericsson (which holds the patent on Bluetooth technology) gets paid for every Bluetooth-enabled device which is sold. This currently includes printers, phones, mobile devices -- you name it. If Wibree catches on with device makers, Nokia will make money from licensing fees. Apart from that Nokia will maintain a significant presence in mobile technology innovations. The Wibree will probably be incorporated into current BT (Bluetooth) technology, instead of replacing it in devices that already use BT. Even the Bluetooth consortium may contribute to this happening.
However the same economics issues could cause the Wibree to fail, since device makers may be averse to encouraging new technologies for which they have to pay licenses. With wireless USB on its way, OEMs especially will probably not be in too much of a rush to embrace Wibree (just as they picked their way with Bluetooth).
The National Issues
Apart from this being a “head to head” battle between two telecommunication giants, Ericsson (who owns the Bluetooth license) and Nokia (who developed the Wibree technology), it is also a national issue, Sweden (Bluetooth) against Finland(Wibree). European countries traditionally have arch enemies (former invaders and colonizers, current economic competition): the French and the English, the Portuguese and Spanish. The Swedes and the Finns have their own grouse. Sweden has almost always been the stronger, more aggressive, more Nordic nation. Nationalist fervor will encourage wide spread use and promotion of the Wibree and Nokia will take this as more than just “business as usual." If you're looking for a parallel situation, look at Apple against Microsoft -- get the picture?
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