The Wi-Fi Alliance, the consortium that decides on the standards by which your laptop lets you stream all those anime series on Netflix, has unveiled a new low-power protocol for Internet of Things devices.
The new standard, called HaLow, promises to double the range for your smart devices and do a better job of penetrating the walls and floors between your router and, say, your master bathroom. Standard Wi-Fi uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections, but HaLow will broadcast in the 900MHz band, consuming less power and making range less of an issue — both of which are important hurdles to overcome if wearables are to continue to gain traction in the marketplace.
Read more: Wi-Fi Alliance, Wired