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Three-year plan includes enhancements to performance, security, power consumption
and usability
Overland Park, KS – Nov. 8, 2004 – With the purpose of helping manufacturers
plan for future products and setting industry expectations, the Bluetooth Special
Interest Group (SIG) today unveiled a three-year roadmap outlining a series of
enhancements to the Bluetooth specification. Updates in the areas of performance,
security, power optimization and usability will help maintain Bluetooth technology’s
position as the leading personal connectivity technology and establish a role
in new markets.
Bluetooth technology is currently the leading and only proven short-range wireless
technology, used widely for personal area networking with devices like mobile
phones, PCs, PDAs, headsets, and automotive hands-free systems. While Bluetooth
technology is designed for personal area network applications, planned enhancements
increase Bluetooth technology’s applicability in new areas such as sensor scenarios,
streaming audio applications, multi-player gaming and ad-hoc file sharing.
“This roadmap is the result of collaboration between the Bluetooth SIG’s membership
and staff to address future market demands and set the stage for Bluetooth wireless
technology over the next two to three years. It will not only help manufacturers
set their own product roadmaps but will also define Bluetooth technology’s place
in the wireless world,” said Dr. Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth
SIG. “We don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all wireless technology and want
to clearly outline Bluetooth technology’s direction and core competencies.”
Building on Bluetooth technology’s inherent strengths of low power, low cost,
built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use and ad-hoc capabilities, the SIG plans
the following advancements for the technology:
2004 – Performance and Power Consumption
The Bluetooth SIG is expecting an increasing need in the coming years for the
technology to transfer larger data-intensive files wirelessly between personal
devices, handle streaming CD-quality audio and run multiple, simultaneous device
connections. The 2004 section of the roadmap will help address the necessary speed
and through-put for these types of Bluetooth applications. Bluetooth Version 2.0
+ EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) will triple the technology’s performance with data
rates of up to three megabits per second (mbps) while at the same time reducing
power consumption.
2005 – Quality of Service (QoS), Security and Power Consumption
In 2005, the Bluetooth SIG will test and release a new version of the specification
that will further enhance the usability of multi-device scenarios, improve overall
security, and dramatically improve power consumption, enabling Bluetooth sensors
to last for multiple years on a single battery.
QoS enhancements address a need for more Bluetooth devices to be connected and
run simultaneously, without latency or interference. With QoS, devices communicate
their data transfer needs and traffic is prioritized accordingly. For example,
Bluetooth technology will recognize that printing can handle a one second delay
while a mouse or stereo headset cannot tolerate much latency.
This specification will enhance privacy during pairing by suggesting longer,
alphanumeric pins, dramatically reducing the possibility for a security breach.
Additional improvements in power consumption, as well as an increase in the piconet
maximum from seven slaves and one master to 255 devices plus master, will make
Bluetooth technology well-suited for sensor scenarios such as home security systems
and industrial automation applications. Bluetooth technology has the added benefit
of allowing users to interface with sensor systems using other Bluetooth enabled
devices. For instance, a user could disarm a home security system by pushing a
button on a mobile phone, or a factory manager could monitor manufacturing processes
by connecting sensors to a PC.
2006 – Multi-cast, Security and Performance
In the 2006 update to the Bluetooth specification, the Bluetooth SIG will continue
to improve on usability, security and performance.
Multi-cast capabilities will allow the same message to be sent to multiple devices
one time, simultaneously allowing for improved usability and power consumption
in applications like multiplayer gaming, multiple stereo headphones and speakers.
Already a remote risk, privacy enhancements will make it impossible for a device
in non-discoverable mode to be located in even the most advanced, multi-year attack.
Performance enhancements will increase the range of very low power Bluetooth
enabled sensors to approximately 100 meters.
Roadmap Timing
Bluetooth Version 2.0 + EDR was also announced today (ADD URL) after a six-month
prototyping phase. Products with EDR are expected in the next six to nine months.
The next two versions of the specification are expected to have similar timing
with testing completed and the specification available at the end of each year.
About the Bluetooth SIG
Bluetooth wireless technology is revolutionizing the personal connectivity market
by providing freedom from wired connections. It is a specification for a small-form
factor, low-cost radio solution providing links between mobile computers, mobile
phones and other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications,
computing, and network industries, is driving development of the technology and
bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes promoter group companies Agere,
Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and thousands of
Associate and Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are
located in Overland Park, Kansas, U.S.A. For more information please visit www.Bluetooth.com.
The Bluetooth word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the
Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
Press Contact:
Starr Million
INK Public Relations
(512) 228-2842
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