In 1994 Ericsson launched an initiative to study a low-power, low-cost interface between mobile phones and accessories. This led to the creation of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group in 1998 and version 1.0 of the Bluetooth Spec in 1999. Finally, after seven years, we are beginning to see Bluetooth devices hit the market.

Ericsson's "major" product contribution was a $200 Bluetooth headset. They have released a couple of phones with integrated Bluetooth, although U.S. availability has been extremely limited. And while other products are beginning to trickle out, users are finding a "which came first, the chicken or the egg" dilemma. The Pocket PC manufacturers, with the notable exception of Compaq, have been waiting for the mobile phone makers to integrate Bluetooth, who in turn have been slow to do just that. Hence, the slower than expected penetration of Bluetooth devices. Each party has been somewhat reluctant to play chicken to the other's egg, or egg to the other's chicken.

Bluetooth basics

From a technology standpoint, Bluetooth is a short-distance radio-based technology that operates at 2.4 GHz on the ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) band, which is free and unlicensed throughout the world­the same unlicensed frequency used by 802.11. Bluetooth proved to be independent of operating and environmental conditions, eliminating the need for special equipment such as special cables, specific entries, ports, and settings required to establish communications between devices.

Every Bluetooth-capable device can communicate with a range of other devices in a small wireless network often referenced as a piconet. Each individual Bluetooth component is identified by a unique address, and all devices maintain a logical connection with one another that is only converted into a physical connection in the case of an actual data transfer. Bluetooth technology also uses a fast frequency-hopping technique, providing immunity to eavesdropping and interference from other radiation in this frequency range. The maximum range of a Bluetooth connection is about 10 meters, but there are already new specifications waiting approval that will provide range up to 100 meters.

The idea behind Bluetooth

Bluetooth was intended to replace the troublesome, inconvenient, and vulnerable cable connections between different devices. Infrared (IR) technology was a good start, but rigid requirements for the line-of-sight and range made IR technology hard to apply in standard corporate environments. IT departments needed a connection that was possible through walls and different materials, without line-of-sight contact. Bluetooth fits the bill and is a solid, compelling alternative to IR. However, the economies of scale have not driven down the cost of Bluetooth integration as hoped. Therefore notebook manufacturers have, for the most part, continued to integrate IR instead of Bluetooth because currently Bluetooth is five to ten times the cost of IR. While prices are expected to drop exponentially, many manufacturers are waiting, again creating the chicken and egg syndrome. So while many of the notebook manufacturers are integrating 802.11, which is beginning to benefit from the economies of scale that Bluetooth manufacturers are waiting for, third party Bluetooth add-ons seem to be the short-term solution to fill the gap until costs are driven down by the mobile phone manufacturers.

As Bluetooth technology is being optimized, and more devices support it, the final word now goes to enterprise IT departments and consumers, who will sign the verdict to the Bluetooth technology acceptance or dismissal. Because the applications and differentiation between Bluetooth and 802.11 are unclear for corporate IT departments, the biggest challenge lies in clarifying the role of Bluetooth in the enterprise and identifying the "killer application" for the technology that will prove the material and intangible benefits ranging from increased ROI, to ease of maintenance, to user-friendliness. Some of the applications that will drive Bluetooth adoption are synchronization, e-mail notification, wireless transactions, and voice/data integration.