Wireless to get more in tune

Wellingborough, UK — Wireless technology is entering a major development phase to meet demands for communication links that are more accurately tailored to the requirements of the user and the application environment, believes IMS Research.

Over the next five years, Bluetooth and Zigbee will challenge the more traditional technologies like Wi-Fi and cellular in the growing global market for industrial wireless communications, according to a new report from the market research firm.

“The number of wireless standards adopted by industry is forecast to increase further to include technologies such as WiMAX. This expansion will result in a market that is more evenly balanced between technologies enabling each user to select the one that best suits their needs,” commented John Morse, senior market analyst at IMS.

The study examined the wireless technologies used with seven specific product groups: wireless access points, sensors & transducers, industrial PCs & HMIs, PLCs, drives, rugged mobile computers and wireless enabling accessories (dongles).

According to IMS, rugged mobile computers were found to be the products that were most likely to be wireless enabled, with PLCs forecast to exhibit the highest growth rate in the adoption of on-board wireless connectivity.