ALKHOBAR: Bluetooth is showing up everywhere. It can be found in mobile phones, headsets, PCs, Human Interface Devices (e.g. keyboards and mice), printers, automotive products, add-in cards and dongles, digital cameras and medical products. The technology is considered to be ubiquitous and that is opening up new opportunities which will certainly benefit tech-savvy consumers.
A study from ABI Research forecasts that in 2013, close to 2.4 billion units of Bluetooth-enabled equipment are expected to ship worldwide. Of these, more than half will be cellular handsets; adding the accompanying headsets brings that figure to more than 75 percent of the total market. Notebook computers and portable music devices will run a distant second and third, although the compound annual growth rate for the latter is by far the greatest of any product class.
“Integration is a key trend in Bluetooth markets,” said ABI Research senior analyst Douglas McEuen. “Designers are saying, ‘Bluetooth is in everything, so what else can we add to the Bluetooth chip?’ GPS is a popular candidate, as is FM radio.”
Some forms of integration just add speed and range, such as the current development of “Bluetooth over 802.11.” It is the same with ultrawideband. The Bluetooth Special Industry Group (SIG) is working with the WiMedia Alliance to create a technology codenamed “Seattle,” which will also add UWB’s high-speed capabilities to Bluetooth. Gaming is another significant market for Bluetooth, although it is characterized by eccentric cycles of growth and contraction, caused by the staggered four- to five-year generations of the three leading game consoles/remote controls.
According to a report by Millward Brown commissioned by the Bluetooth SIG, an average 81 percent of consumers are aware of Bluetooth technology up from 73 percent in 2005. Total awareness is extremely high in China, Germany, Taiwan and the UK. An IMS Research report found that in 2007, the percentage of mobile phones with Bluetooth technology reached 51.2 percent in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, although that figure includes Western Europe, a Bluetooth giant, with over 70 percent of cellular devices in that geography equipped with Bluetooth. IMS also predicted that this year, shipments of equipment enabled by Bluetooth technology will exceed one billion.
Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range wireless standard for personal connectivity of a broad range of electronic devices. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop. In March 2007, the Bluetooth SIG announced Bluetooth Core Specification Version 2.1 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) which adds improved pairing and lowers power consumption. There are many consumer products that are still running 2.0 however. All Bluetooth products are backward compatible, so don’t hesitate to purchase technology equipped with the latest version.
When most people think of Bluetooth, the first thing that comes to mind is a Bluetooth headset. There are so many good ones on the market now that it is hard to decide which one is suitable. Generally, it is best to take into consideration the environment where the headset will be used, as well as the budget available for purchase. For women interested in a Bluetooth headset as a fashion accessory, Sony Ericsson’s HBH-PV712 Style Edition is a lovely choice. The device has a talk and standby time of 15/500 hours. The Style Edition kit includes three feminine Style-up covers for the headset, a silver plated necklace that holds the device when it is on standby, as well as a pouch to protect both mobile phone and headset in the user’s handbag.
Bluetooth headsets can cost a hundred euros or more depending on how many features the device has, its size and the manufacturing material. In the Kingdom, headsets are often regarded as status symbols, but honestly, an expensive headset isn’t the best choice if there is a good chance it could get lost or stolen. A headset should make life easier, not cause anxiety. Bluetrek is a company known for creating headsets that are fashionable but economically priced, and they have models available under 30 euros. Even Motorola has headsets which retail under 40 euros.
There are of course situations where one headset is better than any other. Motorcyclists should take a look at the Parrot SK4000, a Bluetooth hands-free motorcycle kit that features FM RDS radio and a wireless mobile remote control. The kit allows motorcyclists to switch between the radio and answering calls through the clip-on wireless remote fixed on the bike’s left handlebar. Road warriors or folks traveling to places where sourcing electricity is a problem, would find the Iqua SUN useful. This is the world’s first solar powered Bluetooth headset. And for those who spend the day at the beach, the Bluetrek X2 is the world’s first water and shock-resistant Bluetooth headset.
Once you are comfortable with Bluetooth and ready to branch out a little with the technology, there are lots of great devices that harness the power of Bluetooth in new ways. The Gear4 BluStream RX is a Bluetooth dongle that turns a home Hi-Fi into a Bluetooth speaker so that mobile phone or MP3 tunes can be enjoyed wirelessly without the need to purchase new speakers. Simply connect it to the speakers via their line-in or RCA ports and pair it to the music device. Or consider the Logitech V470 Cordless Laser Mouse which connects to notebooks enabled with Bluetooth — freeing the user from the hassle of cords or the need for a receiver.
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