UWB chips (Ultra Wide Band) are currently still extremely rare and only installed in a handful of Android and iOS devices. However, that is likely to change in the near future as Google works on new features for Chromebooks based on UWB technology.
While UWB is currently primarily used to more accurately determine the position and navigation of indoor tech devices, the short-range wireless communication protocol has much more potential. In fact, it’s so powerful that it could potentially replace Bluetooth, NFC, and RFID in the future. Not to mention that it can keep up with high-frequency bands using the Wi-Fi protocol.
In addition, the data transmission bandwidth over these millimeter waves can reach 1 Gbps, which is quite fast for a wireless protocol. UWB is also inherently more accurate and consumes less power. Also, UWB chips will become cheaper to produce over time as the industry pushes for wider adoption.
For these reasons, Google sees great potential in the technology and is currently testing various application scenarios. Chromebook-to-Chromebook, Chromebook-to-phone, and even multi-peer connections are some of the possibilities Google is currently exploring.
