Study Says Bluetooth Entering the Mainstream

Although Bluetooth-enabled devices haven't quite entered the true mainstream yet, they are poised to take that next step. At least, that is the opinion of market research firm In-Stat/MDR. It predicts that shipments of Bluetooth-enabled devices will experience a 60% compound annual growth rate between 2003 and 2008.

Sales of mobile phones, handhelds, and headsets with Bluetooth have increased strongly over the last year, the automotive market is beginning to make an impact, and In-Stat/MDR expects PMG (Personal Mobile Gateway) products to emerge in the near future.

HandsFree regulations and auto manufacturers are helping to drive the movement toward the use of Bluetooth headsets and headphones, and consumers will be able to use them with a multitude of products, including smartphones, digital audio players and game devices, PCs, office phones, and emerging stereo systems and wireless speakers.

"Most of the end-use markets for this technology seem to be making significant headway," says Joyce Putscher, Director of In-Stat/MDR's Converging Markets and Technologies Group. "Since CDMA is a large factor in the US, getting embedded Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones into that market is integral for Bluetooth growth in the U.S."

The Rise of the Personal Mobile Gateway (PMG)

A Personal Mobile Gateway is a device that acts as a cellular-wireless modem for a group of Bluetooth-enabled devices. A user can carry around a single PMG and use it to make voice and data connections with multiple other pieces of consumer electronics.

Backers of this technology believe the use of PMGs will allow superior wireless features to be added to many more products such as watches, pens, messaging terminals, gaming devices, and cameras.

According to In-Stat/MDR, a number of wireless service providers see PMGs as an opportunity to increase their revenues from subscribers and to offer services that differentiate them from their competition.

Related Links

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