Ericsson and Motorola show Bluetooth prototypes
By Mark LaPedus
Electronic Buyers' News
(02/10/99, 11:38 a.m. EDT)
NEW ORLEANS — Two cellular-phone rivals — Ericsson Inc. and Motorola Inc. — are quietly demonstrating what analysts call the first chips to incorporate the highly-touted, short-haul wireless technology called Bluetooth,according to sources and analysts at this week's Wireless '99 trade show here.
From their respective booths, Ericsson and Motorola are showing separate prototype ICs based on Bluetooth, a technology that promises to deliver high-speed wireless data over cellular phones, notebook PCs, personal digital assistants, cameras and other equipment. "I believe [Ericsson and Motorola] already have prototypes of the [Bluetooth] chip," according to Matthew Hoffman, an analyst with Dataquest Inc. (San Jose, Calif.). "I also believe they will incorporate this technology in their phones this year."
Last spring, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba became charter members of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (BSIG). Late last year, BSIG began to define a specification that will be finalized in the first quarter of this year. Bluetooth is a short-haul wireless scheme that sends and receives data via cell phone, portable computer, or other device by using a 2.45-GHz spread-spectrum technology. Data rates for the technology are targeted at 1 bit/second, but the BSIG is shooting for 2 bits/s in the future.
Bluetooth is generating plenty of momentum. The BSIG now has 85 to 90 member companies, including chip makers and OEMs. "By 2002, 70 percent to 80 percent of all mobile phones will incorporate Bluetooth," Hoffman said.
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