Sony Lines Up Consortium for TransferJet

Sony has assembled a proper consortium to develop its (very) short-range high-speed wireless technology TransferJet.

Sony’s TransferJet is a short-range wireless technology that, in theory, offers a whole lot of bandwidth for wireless data transfer between devices: up to 560 Mbps in theory (although 375 Mbps is a more practical number). Obviously, that’s an idea that appeals to a wide range of consumer eletronics manufacturers who are looking for ways to conveniently move ever-large media, image, and video files back and forth between portable devices, PCs, and storage solutions. But by short range, we mean really short range: TransferJet works over distances of about 3 centimeters.

Nonetheless, Sony has been pushing forward with TransferJet, and today unveiled an alliance of major names in the consumer electronics industry all pacting to develop the technology. The new TransferJet Consortium includes Canon, Kodak, Hitachi, Victor, KDDI, Kenwood, Matushita, Nikon, Olympus, Pioneer, Samsung, Seiko, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba.

TransferJet operates in the same 4.5 MHz frequency band as other ultra-wideband wireless systems, but operates at a much lower power requirement so it’s more practical for battery-operated mobile devices and doesn’t run afoul of complicated radio frequency licensing issues in many countries. Also, since TransferJet’s range is so limited, the risk of data theft from someone illicitly intercepting a transmission is low.

Sony Ericsson will apparently lead development of specifications, licensing schemes, and guidelines, and the companies hope the first TransferJet-enabled products will reach consumers in 2009.