ANT+ and Texas Instruments connect proven ultra low power sensors to smartphones

TI's WiLink(TM) family is the first to deliver ANT+ communication on a connectivity combo solution to accelerate time-to-market for handset manufacturers to deliver interoperable sport, fitness and health personal monitoring products

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Texas Instruments

Feb 16, 2010, 04:00 ET

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS – ANT Wireless, a division of Dynastream Innovations Inc. (ANT) and Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced the connection of ANT+ sensors to mainstream mobile phones with the WiLink™ series of multi-protocol chips. Demonstrating on the WiLink 6.0 WLAN/Bluetooth®/FM single chip solution, this strategic combination of superior ANT+ functionality and highly integrated silicon results in the industry's first seamless capture and transmission of physical data from the body to the internet. Leveraging TI's connectivity leadership in the smartphone market, Dynastream is expanding its reach of the ANT+ sensors into the handset market. Existing devices based on WiLink solutions can enable ANT with a simple software upgrade, to connect to the many available ANT+ sensors today. In addition to providing support on the WiLink 6.0 solution, ANT+ support is extensible to the newly announced WiLink 7.0 offering, which is the industry's first WLAN/GPS/Bluetooth®/FM single chip solution.

ANT provides a simple, low cost and low power solution for short range wireless communication in both point-to-point and more complex network topologies with multiple masters. Adhering to the ANT+ profile further ensures the interoperability and accuracy that standardizes ANT+ products.

"Working with ANT and the established ANT+ ecosystem allows us to expand today's smart phone applications with an improved, more connected user experience," stated Eran Sandhaus, director of marketing, TI's wireless connectivity solutions business unit. "We are excited about extending our WiLink platform and low-power RF solutions to support ANT. Device manufacturers designing with our WiLink 6.0 solution can leverage the protocol today to enable mobile handsets to connect with existing and future ANT+ mobile sport, fitness and health applications."

Major brands have adopted the ANT+ interoperable standard and currently distribute some 250 commercially-available ANT+ products and many millions of nodes to the market. All products are based on a combination of the already released ANT+ device profiles and supported by the extensive infrastructure of the ANT+ Alliance.

"We are thrilled to launch this mobile solution with TI, optimizing both their strong industry footprint and the value of ANT+," declared Brian Macdonald, Director, ANT Wireless. "This is a pivotal advancement that allows cell phone providers to immediately partner with best-in-class brands and deliver innovative products right away."

In addition to technologies on display this week, TI, together with Dynastream, is also developing ANT ICs for the sensor market. The CC257x series of ANT ICs is expected to sample to selected customers later this year, further extending TI's commitment to enable ultra low power connectivity.

ANT+ and TI will be demonstrating wireless heart rate, foot pod, weight scale and blood pressure sensors running on the TI WiLink 7.0 solution and the Zoom™ OMAP34x-II mobile development platform at the Mobile World Congress, February 17 and 18 – Hall 8, Booth #8A84.

Availability

Handsets leveraging the WiLink family of solutions supporting ANT-enabled technologies are expected to be available third quarter 2010.

About ANT / ANT+ (www.thisisant.com )

ANT is a proven protocol and silicon solution for ultra-low power (ULP) practical wireless networking applications.

ANT+ facilitates interoperability between ANT+ Alliance member devices and the collection, automatic transfer and tracking of sensor data. Applicable in sport, wellness management and home health monitoring, ANT+ (built on the base ANT protocol) defines device profiles that specify data formats, channel parameters and network key. The ANT+ Alliance is an open special interest group of companies who have adopted the ANT+ promise of interoperability. The Alliance ensures standardized communications through optimized brand value and partnerships with other top tier products.

ANT/ANT+ offer a superior ultra low power wireless technology solution that is:

Mature, stable and proven with extensive infrastructure (development and manufacturing tools)
Low cost solution (membership, development, certification, chips, etc)
Ultra low power solution (offering longer battery life than comparative protocols for the same data through put)
Capable of complex network topologies with multiple masters
Available now a leading multi protocol (WiFi/BT/FM/ANT) chip for use in cell phones and other mobile hub devices

The company behind ANT Wireless is Dynastream Innovations Inc. Dynastream was established in 1998 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin International Inc. in December 2006. Dynastream is based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, and is a world innovator in the research and development of inertial and wireless technology. www.dynastream.com

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.

Trademarks

OMAP and WiLink are trademarks of Texas Instruments Inc. All other registered trademarks and trademarks belong to their respective owners.

SOURCE Texas Instruments