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Bluetooth begins to make an appearance

Krishnan Thiagarajan

HONG KONG, Dec. 8

FOR the technically inclined, Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications giant is expected to launch Bluetooth handsets on a commercial basis by the end of this month and they will be widely available by early next year, according to Mr Philippe Kubbinga, Director, Product Marketing, Asia Pacific, Ericsson.

He said: ``The first shipment will start by the end of this month and you will start seeing Bluetooth handsets in Europe and Asia Pacific.''

In the latest GPRS enabled mobile phone, Bluetooth has been integrated into the phone and consumers can buy the mobile phone and the Bluetooth handset together, he added.

Bluetooth is an open standard for short-range transmission of digital voice and data between mobile and fixed systems with data rates of around 720 kilobits per second (KBPS) within a range of 100 metres or longer.

By embedding Bluetooth in electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, laptops and other handheld devices, users have the advantage of letting these devices interact with each other without the cumbersome cable connections, ther eby enhancing mobility.

On the developments in the Bluetooth arena, Mr Kubbinga said, ``Another interesting concept which Ericsson has is the chat pen (in association with another company). Using the chat pen, you can send drawings or messages by writing them on a piece of ordi nary paper.''

A Bluetooth device transmits it from the phone and the phone will sends it to whoever requires this. Another application which has been created by a company called Axis Technology based in Sweden is Bluetooth-enabled devices in printers.

``These products are likely to be in the market in the next two to three months.''

Responding to how Ericsson and the industry as a whole is working to enhance Bluetooth applications, he said, ``There is a special interest group in the Bluetooth Consortium.''

This interest group defines profiles and develops open protocols and standards with the consumer in mind. The protocols ensure interoperability between different electronic devices.

Currently, the special interest group has over 2000 members and there are companies from the consumer industry such as Philips, Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba.

``We know that they are working on Bluetooth applications and it is only a matter of time before they are going to start coming out with commercial applications.''