Windows Phone Thoughts: An Introduction to Wireless USB

"Universal serial bus (USB) technology has been a popular connection type for PCs and it's migrating into consumer electronic (CE) and mobile devices. Now this high-speed and effective connection interface is unwiring to provide the functionality of wired USB without the burden of cables. This next iteration of USB technology is the focus of the new Wireless USB Promoter Group, which will define the specifications that will eventually provide standards for the technology."

This DeviceForge article is a good introduction to Wireless USB, what it plans to support, and a look at its consequences. Unsurprisingly, it's all designed around the PC acting as the hub, as Intel wants to protect its PC business. The real question is what wireless standards will be prevalent when WUSB hits the market (it'll be several years, since they're using UWB.) While WUSB, WiFi, and Bluetooth all are competitors to some extent, they do fill different niches: WUSB is a centralized peripheral attachment strategy, WiFi is a LAN networking technology, and Bluetooth is a peer-to-peer device connection technology. While WUSB and Bluetooth are somewhat similar, they also have striking differences, and I think it's too early to tell what effect the two will have on each other.