Anyone remember the Microsoft bluetooth alternative from 2000?

I remember seeing a demo back in 2000, developed at Microsoft Cambridge (UK) with collaboration from Microsoft Harvard (USA) where they had developed a network that was superior to bluetooth. It was hugely faster, had a range 100s of times the distance, more reliable could even locate based on signal strength and was capable of establishing its own network. The demo i saw shown how stores would know you were outside that store and could message you with offers available in that store. Also shown two people private messaging each other from almost a mile apart just using this tech. Ive searched everywhere and can't find any info on it. All i remember is the lead on it was called John and he attended Cambridge university.

What was this called and what happened to it? Can you imagine how advanced this would be now, this was almost 20 years ago, you dont just shelve this kind of tech. Ive searched the Cambridge phd papers too and can't find anything about it either.