Ultra-low-power wireless technologies have enabled a plethora of new applications, especially where sensors transfer small amounts of data – that, too, only occasionally — to a central processing node. Examples are home automation, fitness devices, remote controls, smart meters, payments, etc.

The problem? There is also a plethora of low-power wireless technologies competing for the same market space; they are not all equal and new ones are being developed. Choosing the right connectivity technology for an Internet of Things (IoT) project is a non-trivial exercise that requires careful consideration of multiple technical and commercial factors specific to the application or “use case.”

Luckily, an eminently readable article by Phil Smith, a recognized expert in the field, provides a valuable reference detailing the features, benefits, and shortcomings of each wireless protocol in various applications.

Understanding the differences is key to making the right decision. The wrong decision could be costly. Read Phil’s article Comparing Low-Power Wireless Technologies for an application-by-application matching to appropriate communications technologies.