Analysis: Bluetooth Too Affordable and Too Useful Not to Succeed

Bluetooth promises a world without wires. But it is facing competition from 802.11, a rival high-speed local wireless network standard popular in the U.S. Jeremy Green, an analyst at Ovum says, "Bluetooth will develop on a slow burn rather than the big bang the current hype suggests." However, he adds that 2,500 companies are backing the technology that is "too affordable and too useful not to succeed." Linke believes that many access devices will soon also incorporate 802.11. However, he says that, "For small mobile devices, Bluetooth has the edge because it drains batteries far more slowly. You also don't need to be near a Bluetooth access point to use it to communicate peer-to-peer with other Bluetooth devices -- to transmit business cards, exchange music files, or play multi-user games." Nor do devices need to be in line of sight as they do with infrared.

Here are some examples of the uses of BLIP (Bluetooth Local Infotainment Point) : You're on a train heading for Paris and you want to know where a museum is. "Blip" and the information is in your palm. You walk by a shop and want the price and availability of an item in the window. "Blip" and you have the information – even though the shop is closed. You pass a billboard and want to know more about the product advertised. As long as you're within a 10-meter radius, the information is at your disposal.

For more information: http://www.ericsson.com/infocenter/news/BLIP.html

Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: We think that Bluetooth and 802.11 standards address separate needs. In some applications, Bluetooth has an edge and in other cases, it is wireless LAN standard has a clear advantage. Certainly, more vendors are behind Bluetooth effort. There are some areas where there is an overlap. In such situations, whichever technology offers better functionality at affordable price will succeed.