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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Multimedia News Release - Bluetooth Product Shipments Surpass One Million Units Per Week
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Oct. 28-- The Bluetooth Special
Interest Group (SIG), the trade association responsible for Bluetooth wireless
technology, today announced that the short-range wireless technology has made
its way into a record number of consumer products. For the first time ever,
total Bluetooth product shipments worldwide exceeded one million units per
week, in 3rd quarter 2003, according to Matthew Towers of IMS Research which
operates a Bluetooth semiconductor volume tracking service.
This news may come as a surprise to some as the general consumer audience
is still largely unaware of the technology, but that is expected to change
even as soon as this holiday season. Bluetooth wireless technology has been
quietly making progress over the past year and can now be found in an
impressive array of consumer products, from mobile phones and headsets to PDAs,
PCs, MP3 players and even automobiles.
"Bluetooth has hit a major milestone in its evolution as the technology
enters the maturity stage of its lifecycle. A stable specification and
installed base that runs into millions of units is proof that it has been a
success," said Michael Wall, industry analyst, Frost & Sullivan. "Even critics
would be hard-pressed to name any other wireless communications technology
that managed to achieve the volumes and diversity of deployment of Bluetooth
in just six years."
Aside from the very compelling idea to easily connect electronic devices,
many attribute this progress to the association's strategic focus on improving
the end-user experience. The foundation of this strategy, the "Five Minute
Ready" program, was launched last December as a challenge to the multiple
industries developing Bluetooth products to ensure consumers achieve a
five-minute or less out-of-the-box experience.
"The commitment of the Bluetooth community to the ongoing development of
standards is ensuring that it will continue to be relevant as wireless
communications moves into the future," added Wall.
"The Five Minute Ready program was a challenge that this industry issued
to itself. With eyes wide open, a collective commitment was made to take this
technology to the next level and deliver its promise to consumers," said Mike
McCamon, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. "With a fresh and jointly
held view on the importance of usability, developers and manufacturers are
feeling even more confident about Bluetooth wireless technology -- and one
million products a week shipping is proof of that."
It appears that many product manufacturers took the Five Minute Ready
challenge to heart. Major announcements from manufacturers launching new
consumer products with Bluetooth have hit an all-time high in the past few
months:
-- Bluetooth technology is now an option in the IBM ThinkPad series,
Toshiba Portege, Dell Latitude D800, Sony Vaio, and other PCs, and
comes standard in Apple's G4 PowerBooks.
-- Auto manufacturers Toyota/Lexus, Ford/Lincoln, DaimlerChrylser, Audi
and Acura all recently announced plans of Bluetooth connectivity in
the automobile, joining the ranks of GM, BMW and many others which
have already shipped cars with Bluetooth technology, giving drivers a
true hands-free calling experience.
-- Apple and Logitech brought personal computer peripheral products to
market, announcing new wireless keyboards and mice.
-- The gaming industry shows huge promise - the Nokia N-Gage hit shelves
October 7 and Tapwave's Zodiac gaming device will be available in
early November.
-- Handheld manufacturers such as Palm and HP continue to innovate
handheld devices -- Palm recently unveiled the Tungsten T3 and HP
launched new models of the iPaq.
New market segments continue to open up for Bluetooth wireless technology
applications as well. The adoption of the Audio/Visual profile and other
important application profiles earlier this year are already showing up in
products like wireless stereophonic headsets and are expected to result in
exciting new products on the market in coming months that include
groundbreaking new applications with Bluetooth wireless technology.
"The hype fantasy is finally meeting the product reality where Bluetooth
wireless technology is concerned. Current applications and products are
getting better and new, viable applications and solutions are on the horizon,"
said David Whitlinger, strategic analyst of the system technologies lab at
Intel. "One million products shipping per week is just the beginning."
About the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
Bluetooth(R) wireless technology is revolutionizing the personal
connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections. It is a
specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution providing links
between mobile computers, mobile phones and other portable handheld devices,
and connectivity to the Internet. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG),
comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, and network
industries, is driving development of the technology and bringing it to market.
The Bluetooth SIG includes promoter group companies Agere, Ericsson, IBM,
Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and thousands of Associate and
Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are located in
Overland Park, Kansas, U.S.A. For more information please visit
http://www.bluetooth.com.
The Bluetooth word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned
by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
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