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Technology Stocks : Bluetooth: from RF semiconductors to softw. applications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mats Ericsson who wrote (80)	11/26/1999 9:08:00 AM
From: Ellen	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 322

currents.net Bluetooth To Chomp Wireless Market By Staff, Newsbytes. November 26, 1999 Wireless connections, whether long range telecoms between mobile phone users, or short range between mobile devices and computers, are set to take off in the next couple of years, according to research firm Cahners In-Stat Group. And one of the most high profile short range technologies, between computing devices, or mobile phones and computers, is something called Bluetooth. Bluetooth, named after a legendary Norse king, was developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) - a consortium of five technology giants: Ericsson, Intel, IBM, Nokia, and Toshiba. Bluetooth technology eliminates the need for the cable attachments to connect computers, mobile phones, mobile computers and handheld devices. It uses the latest radio technology to facilitate fast, secure transmission of both voice and data, even when the devices are not within line-of-sight. The frequency range used by Bluetooth technology is globally available, so the Bluetooth facility will be available worldwide. The new technology allows any device equipped with a built-in Bluetooth radio (built into a tiny microchip) to establish a connection with any other similarly equipped device - and each Bluetooth radio can be connected to over 200 other devices. With this new technology, a handheld device can automatically synchronize with a mobile computer; or the user can receive e-mail on their mobile computer via their mobile phone, or be instantly connected to the Internet via a mobile phone, all without an inch of cable or other visible connection. Bluetooth operates up to a range of 10 meters (35 feet) or so - similar to infra-red connections. The main difference is that Bluetooth devices do not need line of sight connections to communicate, and the data speeds can be up to two megabits per second (Mbps), which is enough for voice and limited video communications. Cahners estimates that the manufacture of Bluetooth-enabled equipment will easily exceed 200 million units in 2003. Joyce Putscher, director of Cahners In-Stat Group's Consumer & Convergence Group, says that, "The markets for Bluetooth that will take off in the first wave will primarily be high-end cellular and PCS (personal communications services) handsets and notebook PCs that are geared toward the corporate market or business user." Understandably, companies like telecom giant Ericsson are leading the way. Last week Ericsson introduced a Bluetooth-enabled headset-equipped mobile phone, and signed a deal with Visa International for the development of a Bluetooth-based payment system. The deal between Ericsson and financial services giant Visa International calls for the development of Internet payment "solutions" for mobile electronic commerce, that will let people buy goods and services over the Internet from mobile phones or other mobile devices. The companies said last week that the resulting products will enable people to buy securely from the Internet or an online service provider over wireless networks. The companies also intend to offer products that will allow for complete ordering, payment, and delivery over a mobile phone. Cahners expects the market for Bluetooth-enabled products will be huge over the next few years. For example, the company estimates that semiconductor revenues alone will top $3 billion in 2005. And the business market is where Cahners thinks the initial move towards Bluetooth will pick up speed. With about 85 percent of all notebook sales being corporate purchases, a figure that Cahners does not expect to change over the next five years, the initial potential market for Bluetooth- enabled notebooks could be as high as 20 million in 2000 and 34 million in 2003. Cahners adds that Bluetooth is getting major attention in Europe, and that the technology could be an important feature for selling into the European market next year. Europe is ahead of the US in terms of using mobile data services, says the research company, primarily due to multiple protocols in the US. And with Europe also ahead of the US in digital mobile phone use, Bluetooth-enabled cellular/PCS phones and notebook PCs are expected to initially take off faster in Europe than in the US. Cahners In-Stat Group is at cahnersinstat.com