Bluetooth® is a wireless communication standard that have been initiated by Ericsson more than 10 years ago as an alternative to wired connection between mobile phones and their accessories. The technology is standardised as 802.15 with IEEE (Institute of Electronic Engineers). The Bluetooth standard is developed and managed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) (www.bluetooth.com) a consortium of more than 2,000 companies, including Exwell International.

Bluetooth is used for the connection within short range (Personal Area Network, PAN) of devices like PCs, mobile phones, PDAs, GPS receiver, mice, keyboards, access points but also home appliances like refrigerators or even cars could be equipped with Bluetooth. Devices that would like to communicate over Bluetooth must support the same profile on both ends. Profiles are a kind of abstracted use cases and by developing new profiles new applications can be added to the Bluetooth standard.

Bluetooth enables convergence

Bluetooth is the standard that will make the convergence between Information Technology, Consumer Electronics and Telecommunication happen. As an affordable technology Bluetooth replaces cables and connectors, and wirelessly exchanges data in different formats between various clients.

This radio standard supports both, synchronous transmission required for voice applications as well as asynchronous transmission for exchange of data. Currently the bandwidth is up to 3 Mbit/s in the future 100 Mbit/s and more will be possible. Bluetooth works in the license free ISM-Band (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) which is also used by DECT-Phones, Microwave Ovens and W-LAN (802.11x).

In November 2004 the Bluetooth SIG defined a new version, named Bluetooth 2.0 with optional features covered under the EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) specification. Bluetooth 2.0 has improved security, establish connection between devices quicker, a higher data rate and additional profiles for new applications. Bluetooth ICs supporting the new 2.0 standard became commercially available at the end of 2005.