Redpine Signals Introduces Industry's First Low-Power Dual-Band Wearable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Tag

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Redpine Signals, Inc., a leading developer of ultra-low-power and high-performance multi-standard wireless chipsets and systems, today announces the release of the industry's first wearable Wi-Fi and BLE RTLS tag with dual-band capability. The WM4-50 device is available in several form factors and is worn around the wrist or neck and features sensors, an alarm button and LEDs for two- way communication with the network and for emergency use. The tags, in conjunction with Redpine's RTLS infrastructure, offer accurate locationing through multiple modes. Operating in Wi-Fi mode, higher GHz band helps ensure longer battery life compared to tags that operate in the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum.

This tag device is unique in the sense that it uses Wi-Fi for data connectivity where a proven IP networking functionality becomes important along with secure operation. WM4-50 supports enterprise security to provide needed security for data connectivity; BLE is used for enhancing the battery life and location accuracy utilizing Redpine's proprietary location technology.  This versatile tag selects an optimal wireless protocol for a required feature (security, IP network flexibility, location accuracy) in a given application. 

Redpine has created its own infrastructure for locationing, keeping ease of deployment in mind. Creating a cost-effective overlay architecture is the key piece of the solution which includes SuperMote™, a device that communicates with the tag and a NetworkMote™device that communicates with the IP network. This architecture not only simplifies the deployment, but also enables higher-accuracy applications using both Wi-Fi and BLE. Coupled with Redpine's Cloud Based Location as a Service (CLaaS™) offering, Redpine provides a total solution for the wearable and location markets.

"We have built the WM4-50 wearable tag using our ultra-low power M2MCombo™ chipset, RS9113, providing it with a host of unique features," said Venkat Mattela, CEO of Redpine Signals. "With RF-based wake up, compatibility with Cisco's Real-time Location Systems (RTLS) environment as well as Redpine's own RTLS infrastructure, time of flight and RSSI based locationing, operation in the 5 GHz band, and BLE, the tags stand out in ease of use and battery life," he added.

"Multi-mode tags, such as Redpine Signals WiSeMote Tags with enterprise security, Bluetooth Low Energy and Wi-Fi are a great example of the technology being developed to enable the Internet of Everything, connecting people, processes, data and things," said Bob Friday, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Cisco's Enterprise Networking Group.

The tags are waterproof to enable sanitization, and offer a find-for-location-based tracking of people in amusement parks, hospitals, large office buildings, hazardous work environments, among others.

The WM4-50 tags are sampling now with large-scale availability in Q1 2014. Redpine Signals will demo the product at the Energy Harvesting & Storage USA 2013 show, booth #M05 in Santa Clara, CA from November 20-21.

About Redpine Signals, Inc.
Headquartered in San Jose, California, Redpine Signals, Inc., is a fabless semiconductor, M2M devices and wireless system Solutions Company focusing on innovative, ultra-low power and high-performance products for next-generation wireless applications. Redpine was founded in 2001 and was the first in the industry to launch an ultra-low power and low-cost single-stream 802.11n chipset in late 2007. Again, in 2009 Redpine pioneered the adoption of self-contained 802.11n modules into the then emerging M2M market. Redpine offers chipsets, modules, devices and systems covering multiple market segments in M2M (industrial, medical, automotive, connected home, smart energy, building automation and real-time Locationing), mobile and networking markets. Its technology and product portfolio includes chipsets, modules and devices with multi-stream 802.11n, 802.11ac, dual mode Bluetooth® 4.0 and ZigBee® wireless connectivity. The company has more than 220 employees worldwide.

For more information on Redpine products, visit http://www.redpinesignals.com/  or contact Redpine at [email protected] .

Redpine Signals, Inc.
[email protected]

SOURCE Redpine Signals, Inc.