Bluetooth technology

The shackles of cabling and the problems of connecting devices via various types of specialized cabling are eternally rid of with the advent of Bluetooth technology. A new technology, which can revolutionize the entertainment, communication, e-commerce, surveillance and automotive industry.

It all began in 1998, when a group of computer and telecommunications industry leaders, including Intel, IBM, Toshiba, Ericsson, and Nokia, together began developing a way for users to connect a wide range of mobile devices quickly and easily, without cables. Bluetooth is essentially a radio block that lets devices communicate with each other.

But how did Bluetooth get its name? It has been named after King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark. In 1994 Ericsson Mobile Communications spearheaded a study which was aimed at investigating the low-power, low-cost radio interface between mobile phones and their accessories and this was how bluetooth took shape. To ensure that this technology could be seamlessly implemented in a diverse range of devices, leading companies formed a special interest group (SIG), formally announced on May 20, 1998, to design a royalty-free, open specification technology, code named "Bluetooth." The SIG has gained membership and acceptance from companies such as 3COM/Palm, Axis Communication, Compaq, Dell, Lucent Technologies UK Limited, Motorola, Qualcomm, Xircom and is encouraging the involvement of all other companies who are interested in offering products which take advantage of a standardized, wireless means for connection. Presently Intel and 3Com are working on Bluetooth networks for wireless computing

Bluetooth will enable users to connect a wide range of computing and telecommunications devices easily and simply, without the need to buy, carry, or connect cables. It delivers opportunities for rapid ad hoc connections, and the possibility of automatic, unconscious, connections between devices. It will virtually eliminate the need to purchase additional or proprietary cabling to connect individual devices. Because Bluetooth wireless technology can be used for a variety of purposes, it will also potentially replace multiple cable connections via a single radio link.

Bluetooth works by embedding tiny, inexpensive, short-range transceivers into the mobile devices that are available today, either directly or through an adapter device such as a PC Card. The radio operates on the globally available unlicensed radio band, 2.45 GHz, and supports data speeds of up to 721 Kbps, as well as three voice channels.

In India with the strategic tie-up between Infocomm Solutions Ltd. the 100 percent subsidiary of Singapore based Future Techno Designs Pvt. Ltd. wireless solutions will be available. These solutions will be tailor made to the market requirements prevalent here.

In two to three years time Bluetooth will be a built-in feature in more than 100 million mobile phones and several million other communication devices. In fact it will be a safer alternative to the present mobile phone technology.

The plus points about bluetooth technology is that it is not dependent on the software, hardware or operating systems of the device used, but rather on the software which has been developed by Ericsson. The software is used with hardware which is a module consisting of a radio transmitter, microprocessor, memory and antenna.

Nokia is a founding member of Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) and has created a special support organization for third party developers. Motorola's role will be one of offering a diverse portfolio of Bluetooth products to work seamlessly with desktop, notebook, PDA or Motorola cellular telephones. Motorola's goal is to provide complete systems solutions for the Bluetooth marketplace.

Philips, has been a pioneer by itself. The Philips Semiconductor Company, is the world's first to make the highly integrated low-cost silicon system solutions that allows Bluetooth to work and has demonstrated the wireless transmission of digital audio signals from their source to loudspeakers.

For bluetooth to be accepted across the world or even in India, costs will be an important factor. With the costs factor being tackled it is projected that Bluetooth technology will be the standard add for all kinds of devices.

Information courtesy
Business Today
Cyber News
The Internet