European Connection

European users could soon see a dual-mode mobile phone that connects via Bluetooth to your home or office network and then switches to GSM or 3G when you’re moving around.

Phone calls using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

Dubbed “Project Bluephone,” the concept was developed by BT Group in partnership with major mobile phone vendors such as Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Vodafone and Alcatel. The group will work towards a joint goal of creating a single handset with a single end-user phone number for voice and data access via mobile wireless service and Bluetooth- or Wi-Fi-equipped local area networks.

Project Bluephone—the name was inspired by the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi technology it uses—began in April 2003, and a second wave of beta trials is underway now.

“Bluephone is a BT-developed product and is the first in the world that’s being done this way…,” the head of the project said. “It means you can use a mobile phone when in Bluephone-enabled sites—that could be in homes, offices or public places—and you make your call via your mobile phone over the fixed network rather than the mobile network. This gives improved voice quality and improved coverage plus very good reception over your low-cost, fixed network. You’ll still get your mobile voice and data—SMS messages and voice mail—over your fixed network.”

No images of the prototype Bluephone were available, but BT offered a similar system in the late 90s. The Sony Ericsson P900 (pictured here) works with that system.

Successful trial of system in London

Currently, the project has undergone a successful trial at BT Centre in London, suggesting that the technology and the prototype device works as promised. An invitation to implement the network infrastructure technology has gone out to 65 suppliers, the widest BT has ever put out. To date BT has received a large number of responses from around the world. A full business case will follow, leading to further internal and external trials.

Bluephone requires a handset containing specially developed software. The intention is that the customer will be able to choose from a variety of BT or supplier-branded handsets, although some DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) products may be able to be used with the new service.

“We want to make this as cost-effective for the user as possible,” said BT. “For a reasonable initial outlay, it will improve the quality of mobile calls, be easy to use, and will ultimately save you money. We will be offering significant cost savings against today’s mobile spend.”

The Bluephone team is expecting sales to rocket as the UK catches on to the benefits. They predict that thousands of Bluephones will be in use by next year.

The benefits of using such a service would be cheaper and clearer calls. The eventual goal is to equip users with phones that are compatible with both mobile networks and wireless local networks. Like a smartphone, this would let them make phone calls and surf the Web at high speed when within range of a network hotspot, and use GSM/GPRS or 3G services at other times.

Dual-mode solutions

Some predict that a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi combination won’t work because they use the same radio frequencies and can interfere with each other. However, Intersil and Silcon Wave have announced they have created a board that will allow both technologies to co-exist peacefully! The goal of the Intersil/Silicon Wave co-development effort is to make a series of dual-mode solutions, all of which combine Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11b on the same platform, using the same antenna.