TM for the short range connectivity environment Video enabled September 2006 HIGH SPEED BLUETOOTH THIS ISSUE A NEW DAWN SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR BLUETOOTH – THE UNDERLYING SUCCESS OF UWB? MOTOROLA’S VISION FOR HIGH SPEED BLUTOOTH sponsored by 2 www.click.co.uk a new dawn This issue of Incisor is dedicated to an important development that is taking place now in the short range wireless market. It has been produced in partnership with three industry-leading organisations with whom Incisor enjoys a close working relationship. These are the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, CSR and Motorola. The development that we are focusing on concerns the alliance that has been created between two wireless technologies – Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband (UWB). Few would dispute that Bluetooth is the de facto standard for short range wireless connectivity, and the master of the Wireless Personal Area Network or WPAN. This is a fast-moving world though, and today’s mobile devices are encouraging us to move ever larger amounts of data around. Bluetooth needed a higher speed of data transfer if it was to retain control of the WPAN. In March this year the Bluetooth SIG announced that it would join forces with the WiMedia Alliance version of UWB, which offers very high data rates and very low power consumption. We are now working towards the launch of what is currently known as High Speed Bluetooth. Within this special issue we use the multi-media capability of our magazine to include video as well as conventional editorial material. We present interviews with three senior executives – one each from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, CSR and Motorola. There are few people in this industry with a better and more accurate understanding of the High Speed Bluetooth roadmap. We have created an extended version of this introduction, which provides an expanded overview of the High Speed Bluetooth project, and – for new readers – also provides background information to how Incisor came to be involved with these high profile wireless industry trailblazers. Go to the video link shown on this page to learn more. We have also included further links to valuable reference material, such as Motorola’s fascinating ‘Jordan’s morning’ short movie. I regard this as a new chapter in the history of Incisor. The reality is that this vision has probably never before been presented to people outside of closed door industry events. More similar ventures will follow, and I would be very pleased to get your feedback. How can we improve and expand our publishing activities? Send me an email at [email protected]. Vince Holton Publisher & editor-in-chief, Incisor INCISOR TV ADDS VIDEO THIS MONTH EDITORIAL CONTACTS This issue contains four video interviews SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR PRODUCED/DISTRIBUTED BY: which are presented as Flash (.flv) video The Bluetooth Special Interest Group Click I.T. Limited files. By clicking on the screens shown roadmap for High Speed Bluetooth. www.click.co.uk you will view the interviews which are Hampshire Gate, Langley, Rake streamed from the Click I.T. web site – Hampshire GU33 7JR, England Tel: +44 (0)1730 895614 www.click.co.uk. BLUETOOTH – THE Incisor provides commercial and promotional The quality of video delivery will depend UNDERLYING SUCCESS opportunities. Sponsorship and advertising on your connection speed. The OF UWB? enquiries should be directed to Vince Holton assumption has been made that all but a The perspective of the leading Bluetooth CONTACT DETAILS: very few Incisor readers will have the semiconductor company. Publisher/Editor-in-chief: Flash media player installed and access Vince Holton · [email protected] to a broadband connection. A 1MB/s line Telephone: +44 (0)1730 895614 has been used as the benchmark. MOTOROLA’S VISION FOR Views expressed within are those of the Incisor editorial and management representatives, and HGH SPEED BLUTOOTH of the representatives of sponsor companies. The future of rich media on mobile devices. Incisor is distributed on a monthly basis to companies and individuals with an interest in short range wireless technology. Subscribe to Incisor free of charge at: http://www.click-incisor.com/subscribe.php Should you wish to stop receiving Incisor, please send a message titled 'UNSUBSCRIBE' to: mailto:[email protected] CLICK HERE TO VIEW The Bluetooth word mark and logo are registered INCISOR INTRODUCTION trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Incisor and the Incisor brandmark are trademarks of Click I.T. Ltd. All other logos and trademarks are the property of the relevant companies. © Copyright Click I.T. Ltd 2006 3 Bluetooth Special Interest Group www.bluetooth.com Bluetooth - shifting into high gear that gauges levels of consumer awareness. The most recent study polled 2100 consumers between the ages of 18 and 70 in the United States, United Kingdom (UK), Germany, Japan and Taiwan. Of the countries polled, the average awareness level was 73 percent, up from 60 percent in 2004. In the UK the number was an astonishing 85% of people surveyed. Why the need for more speed? This is a fast moving industry, and consumers are transporting ever increasing data volumes between mobile phones, computers and many other electronic devices, whilst manufacturers and content providers develop ever more bandwidth hungry applications. High Speed Bluetooth technology addresses this challenge and enables new usage scenarios such as synchronizing an MP3 player with a PC - transferring hundreds of songs at a time. Calculations suggest that High Speed Bluetooth technology will be able to transfer a whole album of MP3 songs in less than a second. Similarly, and in a fraction of the time currently needed, a camera phone will transfer hundreds of images and HD video will be streamed to a TV from a camcorder or a future mobile phone. In the world of Bluetooth wireless range wireless standard for personal A substantial increase in data rate was technology, a development is taking connectivity. Three new Bluetooth needed for Bluetooth technology to meet place that is as important as any so far. enabled products are qualified every day these needs. The Bluetooth SIG A transition that could render Bluetooth and over 10 million Bluetooth units are discussed with its members the best way technology’s success to date merely a shipping per week, and the rapid of making a high speed version of prelude. growth continues. The installed base of Bluetooth technology available. In March Bluetooth devices was over 500 million 2006 it was announced that the Over the course of the next 12-24 products at the end of 2005 and is Bluetooth SIG would combine forces with months, Bluetooth technology will evolve projected to surpass one billion sometime the WiMedia Alliance and its MB-OFDM so that it can handle applications that during 2006. version of UWB. The WiMedia Alliance require extremely high bandwidth, basis for the industry’s first UWB coupled with very low power Bluetooth technology will now move into standards (published by Ecma consumption. Today, this new the new territory represented by high International) is optimized for wireless development, which combines Bluetooth bandwidth applications in the home and personal-area networks, delivering high- technology with Ultra Wideband (UWB), is broader business environment. One speed (480Mbps and beyond), and low- known as High Speed Bluetooth important factor will ease the transition power multimedia capabilities for the PC, technology. from the current position as clear leader consumer electronics, mobile and in headset/cellphone connectivity. This is automotive market segments. As Bluetooth technology emerged in the very high level of awareness of the 1998, could the core team of engineers Bluetooth wireless technology and the The combination of Bluetooth technology possibly have known the real potential? Bluetooth brand. and WiMedia UWB maintains core Bluetooth wireless technology was attributes that have led to Bluetooth designed to connect mobile devices For three years, the Bluetooth Special technology’s leadership and consumer anywhere, anytime. Today, Bluetooth Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) has demand. These include low power technology has become the global short- commissioned a market research study consumption, ad hoc short range PAN ➔ 4 www.bluetooth.com connectivity and robustness against found itself in when it was launched back With semiconductor companies already interference. Crucially, the Bluetooth SIG in 1998. Both parties have agreed to working on the first Bluetooth and WiMedia Alliance identified shared develop a high speed, high data rate technology/UWB chip sets, the first goals for global regulatory approval, Bluetooth solution that utilizes the prototypes are expected by the second backwards compatibility with over unlicensed radio spectrum between 6 and quarter of 2007. Prototyping is expected to 500 million devices and high-quality 9.25 GHz, which is partially available in be completed by the fourth quarter of products, plus the need to deliver data most countries. The Bluetooth SIG is 2007, soon thereafter first consumer rates required for high bandwidth personal convinced that with lobbying this will be products are also likely to appear. area applications for many years to come. made available in most markets. As the Bluetooth SIG and WiMedia Alliance The Bluetooth SIG judged that joining The selection of the higher frequency define the implementation process, it is forces with the WiMedia Alliance would range answers concerns voiced by fully intended that all of the good work that significantly strengthen the Bluetooth regulatory bodies in both Europe and Asia. has been put in to perfect the Bluetooth domain for the future. The Bluetooth SIG is already working with SIG Qualification Program is carried over Japanese and European regulators, basing so that High Speed Bluetooth enabled Integrating Bluetooth wireless its work on the experience gained with products meet the Bluetooth SIG’s high technology and UWB Bluetooth technology some 8 years ago.