[an error occurred while processing this directive]

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced that as a result of the growing consumer demand for Bluetooth wireless technology, it has set a new milestone of five million Bluetooth units shipping per week. The five million milestone demonstrates the wide acceptance of Bluetooth technology in a multitude of applications.

“Five million units shipped validates the sizable market for Bluetooth technology — every time you blink an eye, another 10 Bluetooth chipsets see the world,” said Eric Schneider, marketing director, Asia Pacific & Japan, Bluetooth SIG. “When you couple that with the recently announced collaboration between the Bluetooth SIG and UWB, Bluetooth technology will further reinforce its leading position far into the future. Even today, we expect this will have a positive impact in Bluetooth uptake.”

“The five million per week mark proves that Bluetooth technology has strong marketplace traction. Microsoft is committed to ensuring that the platform support in Windows meets the needs of the marketplace,” said Harish Naidu, general manager of the Windows Device Experience Group at Microsoft Corp. “Bluetooth technology enables millions of people to cut through the clutter of cables and experience new possibilities to connect. We look forward to continued cooperation with our industry partners on Bluetooth deployments so that our mutual customers can enjoy the benefits.”

The SIG's Asia Pacific contingent is made up of more than 1,000 vendor companies working to deploy Bluetooth technology across an ever-widening variety of applications such as mobile phones, hands-free kits for cars, PDAs, laptop computers, MP3 players, mice and keyboards. More than 100 manufacturers in Taiwan expect to produce in excess of 46 million Bluetooth-enabled devices in 2005 — up 79% from 2004, while Hong Kong makers are forecast to manufacture 5.1 million, up 135% from last year, according to a recent report published by the Greater China-focused Global Sources media company. Survey findings also anticipate growth of 125% among the 160 mainland China vendors slated to make 3.3 million Bluetooth products this year.

Bluetooth wireless technology has set its mark in every level of adoption. Since the first release of the Bluetooth specification in 1998, more than 3400 companies have become members in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Meanwhile, the number of Bluetooth products on the market is multiplying rapidly. Volumes doubled from 2003 to 2004 to an installed base of more than 250 million with a continued growth reaching 500 million units by the close of 2005.

For more information, visit http://www.bluetooth.com