'Bluetooth is the simple choice for convenient, wire-free, short-range communication between devices. It is a globally available standard that wirelessly connects mobile phones, portable computers, cars, stereo headsets, MP3 players, and more. Thanks to the unique concept of “profiles,” Bluetooth enabled products do not need to install driver software. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths — small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. Bluetooth wireless technology is the leading and only proven short-range wireless technology on the market today shipping over five million units every week with an installed base of over 500 million units at the end of 2005.'
Source: www.bluetooth.com

Secure connections

'From the start, Bluetooth technology was designed with security needs in mind. Since it is globally available in the open 2.4 GHz ISM band, robustness was built in from the beginning. With adaptive frequency hopping (AFH), the signal “hops” and thus limits interference from other signals. Further, Bluetooth technology has built-in security such as 128bit encryption and PIN code authentication. When Bluetooth products identify themselves, they use the PIN code the first time they connect. Once connected, always securely connected.'
Source: www.bluetooth.com

Market expansion

Bluetooth technology research begun in 1994, when Ericsson Mobile Communications initiated a study to investigate the feasibility of a low-power, low-cost radio interface between mobile phones and their accessories. Then, in February 1998, five companies, namely Ericsson, Nokia, IBM, Toshiba and Intel formed a Special Interest Group (SIG). These business sector members - two market leaders in mobile telephony, two market leaders in laptop computing and a market leader in digital signal processing technology - surrendered the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) over the technology, enabling Bluetooth devices to be assembled by any manufacturer. This move led to a massive widespread and adoption of the technology. To date Bluetooth has received support from more than 800 diverse organizations, all with a major interest in promoting mobile computing.

Bluetooth operates under the unlicensed ISM (Industrial Scientific and Medical) 2.4 GHz region, where data transfers are free. Because of this, and the expanding availability of Bluetooth in handsets, the concepts of Location Based Services and Proximity Marketing have recently taken off.

There are currently 220 million Bluetooth enabled mobile phones in the market, out of the 1.5 billion mobile phone users worldwide. Market statistics expect to see a 71 percent increase in Bluetooth shipments to 500 million in 2006, while a 40 percent growth rate is expected for 2011.