Bluetooth Communication Technology Rises Again

Bluetooth Communication Technology Rises Again

March 4, 2002 (TOKYO) -- Bluetooth, the low-cost short-distance wireless data communication technology, had been loosing its vigor due to the sluggishness of the mobile-phone market and the rise of wireless LANs, but now it is rising again.

The reason is that prices of Bluetooth-related components are becoming lower while their characteristics improve.

In 2002, the costs of implementing the Bluetooth function will decline. The tide for Bluetooth popularization is also running in its favor due to the overcoming of crucial technical problems of radio wave interference with the wireless LAN (IEEE802.11b) systems and the length of time in recognizing each device.

Low-Priced LSIs Bring New Trend in Bluetooth

The Bluetooth-related market, which had been expected to be launched in 2001, had lost momentum due to the rapid deterioration of business performance of Sweden's Ericsson. The company was taking the initiative to spread Bluetooth technology, but this business activity slowed due to the sluggishness of the mobile-phone market. Ericsson has postponed or cancelled its plan of marketing several types of Bluetooth mobile phones in 2001. In Japan also, there have been cancellations of Bluetooth-capable appliance shipments.

As a result, device makers, developing the devices to be connected to the mobile phones, have taken a wait-and-see stance. Microsoft Corp. also has put off installing the function corresponding to the Bluetooth standard in the first version of Windows XP.

Under these adverse conditions, Bluetooth, however, progressed quietly and steadily. First of all, prices of LSIs supporting the Bluetooth function have fallen drastically. In January 2002, their prices have been lowered to US$6-10, as compared with US$15-20 in 2000. Soon, the prices will go down to less than US$5.

Many makers are aiming to participate in the Bluetooth development competition. The competition intensified even before market got big, because there is no need to obtain a technical license to design Bluetooth-related devices.

LSI Enhancement Backs Bluetooth

LSIs are becoming low-priced. But also notable is the improvement in their characteristics. This is especially true for the current dissipation of a LSI chip, which, so far, has been a difficulty for appliance manufacturers. Now it is being lowered to around half of the conventional level.

Bluetooth is settling into the standard version 1.1 and this is improving access. The interoperability with other equipment has been examined several times, and now the interoperability with other manufacturers' appliances is being improved gradually.

The interference with wireless LAN standard radio waves has become less of an issue. Various moves helped solve the interference issue. Elimination methods recommended by the IEEE802 committee have been released, and the launch of LSI chip sets on the market is enabling the operations of Bluetooth and LAN standards at the same time.

Toshiba Corp. intends to ship an LSI chip that shortens the recognition time between wireless data communication devices from nine to ten seconds at longest to two seconds on average and as short as a few hundred milliseconds at the fastest. Toshiba plans to ship the LSIs equipped with firmware by the end of 2002.

Windows XP to Support Bluetooth Popularization

Bluetooth LSI prices have been lowered and thus Bluetooth isn't necessarily restricted only to the use of mobile phones.

The feature of its low current dissipation of a few dozen mA while in operation and as low as a few nA in its waiting mode enables the Bluetooth technology to be widely used for mobile phones and other applications.

For example, as concerns peripheral PC devices, items like a wireless mouse/keyboard that can go without a battery change for more than a year and a low-priced USB-capable wireless adapter, can be realized. This application only needs a transmitting speed of a few hundred kilobits per second.

Microsoft Corp. will add Bluetooth driver software to Windows XP by the summer of 2002. Being triggered by the new Windows XP equipped with the Bluetooth driver software as standard, it is highly possible that the Bluetooth-related peripheral devices will become popular.

Bluetooth-Capable Mobile Phone to Debut from Nokia

The original target for Bluetooth was mobile phones. It is expected that shipments of Bluetooth-capable mobile phones will grow this year due to the appearance of low-priced components.

Finland's Nokia has decided to apply Bluetooth to its new mobile phone model, the Nokia 7650, with a camera. It will be introduced in the second quarter of 2002. Limited high-end models of this phone will have Bluetooth functions.

In Japan, it looks like Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones will appear this summer when Windows XP will come with the Bluetooth driver function.

Fujitsu Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and Sharp Corp. will market their new FOMA mobile phones equipped with the Bluetooth function. They have already acquired the Bluetooth logo qualification, aiming for commercialization during 2002. Other mobile phone manufacturers aim to commercialize several new Bluetooth mobile phone models for KDDI Corp.'s CDMA2000 1X systems, although its time of introduction is not clear.

Rival Technologies Appear

Demand is seen for low-priced and low current dissipation wireless data-communication technologies, which can be used for the various applications, such as a home use game-machine controller, wristwatches, car electronics devices, and others. Many wireless technology standards have begun to appear. These are similar to Bluetooth technology and aim to handle short-distance wireless data communication.

But Bluetooth technology is ahead of those newcomers by two to three years. It is possible that the appearance of these rival technologies could encourage components manufacturers to lower their prices and further spread Bluetooth

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