Smartphone + Wireless Device

Development Challenges

Available in nearly all smartphones/tablets

Low power (esp. with BLE-Bluetooth Low Energy)

More vendor offerings compared to ANT+

CONS:

Requires pairing process

Low data rate (3Mbit/s classic, 1Mbit/s BLE)

BLE devices don't interoperate with classical Bluetooth devices (however dual-mode devices are available)

BEST APPLICATION:

Low power, low data rate applications

Point-to-point communication

Simpler protocol than BLE

Low power

Multiple topologies supported (point-to-point star, tree, mesh)

CONS:

Low data rate (1Mbit/s)

Not as many vendor offerings as Bluetooth

BEST APPLICATION:

Low power, low data rate applications

Sports and fitness fields

Performance and health monitoring

Simple setup - doesn't require pairing

Extremely low power

CONS:

Short communication range (<20 cm)

Low data rate (106kbit/s to 424 kbit/s)

BEST APPLICATION:

NFC can be used to setup more capable wireless connections such as Bluetooth or WiFi Direct

Mobile payments

Patient confirmation/data

High speed data transfer (over 1Gbit/s)

Longer communication distance (~100m)

CONS:

High power consumption

Relatively expensive implementation

BEST APPLICATION:

Internet access