Redpine Signals intros industry's first wearable Wi-Fi and BLE tag

SAN JOSE, USA: Redpine Signals Inc, a leading developer of ultra-low-power and high-performance multi-standard wireless chipsets and systems, 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 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 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 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, CTO and VP 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.