Adaptive Frequency Hopping, Improved Voice Quality and Faster Connection Setup Enhance User Experience
KANSAS CITY – Nov. 5, 2003 – The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association responsible for Bluetooth wireless technology, today announced the adoption of Bluetooth Specification Version 1.2. The updated version of the core specification ushers in a new era for the short-range wireless technology and includes new features resulting in a more reliable and robust user experience for consumers.
“The adoption of Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.2 is the perfect example of what an industry can accomplish together in creating a standard,” said Mike McCamon, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. “All of the work to complete this specification was done by the members, for the members of the Bluetooth SIG. It is a huge accomplishment.”
This new version of the Bluetooth Core Specification was designed for developers by developers with a view toward a more positive user experience and the future wireless world. The current specification is included in over 1000 products as diverse as computer mice and mobile phones to automobiles and various computing products. Version 1.2 is also intended to set the stage for the development of a growing number of mainstream products such as more feature rich mobile phones, headsets, PDAs, digital music players, cameras and laptops in a consumer's Personal Area Network.
The Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.2 introduces a host of new features intended to make Bluetooth wireless technology easier and more reliable to use:
- Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) – AFH was explicitly designed to reduce interference between wireless technologies sharing the 2.4 GHz spectrum. Cordless telephones, microwave ovens and certain Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) technologies, including IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g, generally share the same wireless frequencies as Bluetooth wireless technology. AFH works within the spectrum to take advantage of the available frequencies without limiting the Bluetooth transmission to a set of frequencies occupied by other technologies. This 'adaptive hopping' allows for more efficient transmission within the spectrum, thereby providing the user with greater performance, even if using other technologies along with the Bluetooth wireless technology.
- Enhanced Voice Processing – This feature is designed to improve the quality of voice connections, particularly in noisy environments, using error detection methodologies.
- Faster Connection Setup – This version of the wireless technology allows for even faster connections to other Bluetooth wireless devices, thus improving the user experience.
- Backward Compatible – As a core feature, the new version of the Bluetooth Core Specification is backward compatible with 1.1 Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.1 products, allowing users of nearly all existing Bluetooth equipped devices to easily work with products built to the new Specification.
“The Bluetooth Core Specification Version 1.2 incorporates changes that are meaningful to all of the industries that can make use of Bluetooth wireless technology in their products,” added McCamon. “Version 1.2 is especially exciting for the personal computing industry, however, because of the adaptive frequency hopping feature and the realm of possibilities it opens up for complimentary wireless technologies – like Bluetooth and WiFi – to coexist in the PC.”
Consumer products that incorporate the new version of the Specification are expected to begin shipping in the next quarter, with greater volumes arriving in the market over the next 12–18 months.
About the Bluetooth SIG
Bluetooth? 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 www.bluetooth.com.
The Bluetooth word mark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
