Event
Summary
Hewlett-Packard Company said it will lead the development of printing
profiles for the Bluetooth wireless technology, an emerging standard in
wireless communication. HP, already a Bluetooth Adopter, will assume Associate
status in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, and will use its expertise
in printing and imaging to help drive Bluetooth into new consumer segments.
The
technology, which makes omni-directional, non-line-of-sight transmission
possible, will make pervasive wireless connectivity a reality. For example,
travelers could print text messages from their cell phones to an airline-club
fax machine, or they could print a map from a PDA to a gas station kiosk
complete with printer.
Market
Impact
Bluetooth is a wireless, low cost radio solution, which allows small devices
such as PDAs, cell phones, and palm tops to communicate between each other
and to the Internet. The technology will also be taken to the desktop
so that printers or scanners can communicate with desktop computers (at
short range) without wires, thereby enhancing ease of use and reducing
wiring headaches. The concept has been termed Personal Area Network or
PAN.
Hewlett
Packard will integrate Bluetooth technology into its printing division,
consisting of the DeskJet, the LaserJet and JetDirect cards, in addition
to the palm-top Jornada, the OmniBook laptop offering and the business
line desktops consisting of the Vectra and Kayak lines.
User
Recommendations
The consumer and business markets have heard a lot of hype in regards
to Bluetooth, and now it seems to be taking hold. Estimates place the
number of Bluetooth enabled devices at 400 Million prior to 2005. HP is
leading the way by taking action and implementing Bluetooth technology
into a wide array of product offerings. HP's name has always been synonymous
with technological development and engineering and will pave the way for
other hardware vendors to jump into the manufacturing of Bluetooth enabled
devices.
We
expect the initial products to be fairly expensive, but expect costs for
Bluetooth enabled devices to fall drastically by 2004. We suggest users
hold off implementing Bluetooth technology until such a time as the technology
is not only financially viable, but necessary for integration purposes
and capabilities. However, if you are a 'gadget-fiend' you may not be
able to resist, and you won't be disappointed!