Bluetooth Could Hit Home Audio

May 25, 2005 By Ian Bell

According to Extreme Tech, Enhancements to the Bluetooth core specification will help the technology expand into personal audio, home automation and global navigation systems.

“Audio and video are the killer apps,” said Robin Heydon, a technical consultant for Bluetooth chip maker Cambridge Silicon Radio. Stereo audio headsets will be coming out very soon, he said, taking the concept of a Bluetooth headset a step further.

On the other hand, a home automation working group has received confirmation, Cook said, signaling that the technology may soon seek to challenge Zigbee and other home automation protocols. In addition, a global navigation systems study group has formed, a natural evolution of Bluetooth’s success in hands-free communication inside automobiles.

The SIG is also monitoring feature requests from various groups, among them a non-audio signaling for hands-free communication from a group of watchmakers, who are investigating blinking the watch’s dial or vibrating the chassis to alert the user to an incoming call. Additional feature requests for running Sun’s JINI protocol over Bluetooth, displaying battery information, or extending audio links to greater distances are also being considered, Cook said.”

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Toby at 9:55pm 9th June 2005 What would really be great? If Bluetooth SIG would add a profile for "Push to Talk" or PTT for cellphones and headsets. Nextel has already released a bluetooth phone the i605, and by 2007 or so carriers plan to have PTT interoperability for cross carrier service. Push to Talk services are the best feature availible today, and only promises to get better once cross network PTT is implemented.
Imagine having a bluetooth watch with an embedded microphone and speaker that allows you to make quick PTT radio calls without pulling your phone off your belt. THAT IS COOL!!!!
James at 2:10pm 25th May 2005 This actually makes sense. The Playstation 3 which comes out next March is supposed to be a media hub and uses Bluetooth 2.0 from my understanding. Bluetooth will not interfere with your cordless phones and has a short enough range to be effective and private. I.E. your neighbors will not be able to tap into it.