New Bluetooth Hardware

·Ericsson Bluetooth Chatpen	Nokia Bluetooth Connectivity Pack DTL-1P
TDK Bluetooth USB Adapter	Motorola 270c CDMA

GOODBYE   INFRARED!

"Bluetooth" is a new standard launched in May 1998 which utilises a short-range radio link to exchange information, enabling effortless wireless connectivity between mobile phones, mobile PCs, handheld computers and other peripherals. It aims to replace the IrDA spec of InfraRed in mobile and computing devices. 

The Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) was formed in early 1998 as a result of the global commitment of the five founding companies to develop the concept towards a technology standard. It competes with the 802.11 specification for wireless networking.

The Bluetooth v1.1 specification will be ratified in November 2000 by the SIG to help achieve the collective compatibility and interoperability goals.

The Bluetooth v1.1 specification includes a number of clarifications, corrections and extensions to Bluetooth v1.0B that will assure broader interoperability and support several profile enhancements.

Products based on Bluetooth 1.0B specification can be qualified via the Bluetooth qualification program; however, implementers are strongly encouraged to release their products under the Bluetooth v1.1 specification. Products that have implemented Bluetooth 1.0B critical errata will likely be more compatible with other

Bluetooth 1.0B products. These critical errata are posted on the member website. The Bluetooth SIG plans to release a voting draft of the Bluetooth v1.1 specification in October, and on adopting it as its final specification in November.

Developers should review and adopt the latest Bluetooth Early Adopter Agreement (version 1.2) to submit products into the Bluetooth v1.1 qualification process.

During the coming weeks more information will apparently be released on the migration to the Bluetooth v1.1 specification. 

TDK Bluetooth Product Range

Download Bluetooth Specification v1.0 (PDF file)

Download: BluetoothSpecFiles

The Ericsson Bluetooth Development Kit

Enabling seamless voice and data transmission via wireless, short-range radio, this new technology will allow users to connect a wide range of devices easily and quickly, without the need for cables, expanding communications capabilities for mobile computers, mobile phones and other mobile devices, both in and out of the office.

Ericsson contributed the basic radio technology expertise; Toshiba and IBM are developing a common specification for integrating "Bluetooth" technology into mobile devices.

Intel is contributing its advanced chip and software expertise and Nokia contributes expertise in radio technology and mobile handset software.

Other companies are being invited to support the core technology on a royalty-free basis to ensure that "Bluetooth" can be implemented in many different devices.

The radio will operate on the globally available 2.45 GHz ISM 'free band', allowing international travellers to use "Bluetooth"-enabled equipment worldwide.

Bluetooth System:

• Operates in the 2.4 GHz Industrial-Scientific-Medical (ISM) band.

• 10m to 100m range

• Uses Frequence Hop (FH) spread spectrum, which divides the frequency band into a number of hop channels.

• During a connection, radio transceivers hop from one channel to another

• Supports up to 8 devices in a piconet (two or more Bluetooth units sharing a channel).

• Built-in security.

• Non line-of-sight transmission through walls and briefcases.

• Omni-directional.

• Supports both isochronous and asynchronous services; easy integration of TCP/IP for networking.

• Regulated by governments worldwide.

Uses:

It will connect...

• Printers

• Mobile Phones

• Handsfree Headsets

• LCD projectors

• Modems

• Wireless LAN devices

• Notebooks

• Desktop PCs

• PDAs

• etc
  
  ....to one another via Bluetooth short-range radio modules installed in each of these devices

On Wednesday May 17, the Bluetooth promoter companies announced the availability of a new figure mark to be used along with Bluetooth applications. The new figure mark is based on the Bluetooth history as it is made up of the two runic characters "H" and "B" - short for "Harald Bluetooth". Harald Bluetooth was the Danish king who unified Denmark and Norway in the 10th century.

There are three reasons why this Viking inspired figure mark is important to the Bluetooth wireless technology.

Firstly, the new figure mark is an important symbol, since it is the identifier of the hidden technology inside a product. Bluetooth wireless technology is an invisible technology - not as, for instance, IrDA where you can identify the technology due to the special plastic inside which you have the transmitter.

Secondly, the figure mark serves as a quality mark, since it is to be used for those products that comply with the Bluetooth Specification and/or Foundation Specification as defined in the Qualification Program. In other words, only those products that are “true” Bluetooth products may use the symbol.

Thirdly, only products that have been tested as to interoperability may carry the figure mark.

Sony will launch the Info Stick, a device that will fit in any Memory Stick slot and transfer data via a wireless connection to another device using Bluetooth. The Info Stick is expected to hit the market in 2001.

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