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Moore's Law correctly predicted the pace at which technology would progress: doubling the complexity of integrated circuits every 24 months. In semiconductors this has proven true even if the pace has been slightly adjusted. In progressing a standard like Bluetooth wireless technology — working with more than 6000 member companies from industries as varied as automotive, television and mobile phone — there is no predictable pace for enhancing the technology and a healthy level of debate on what constitutes progress.

Therefore, when the Bluetooth SIG gained consensus to move forward on the creation of a high-speed Bluetooth channel using UWB technology from the WiMedia Alliance, it was after much collaborative effort. Overall, the Bluetooth SIG was able to achieve agreement from its members that 1) they wanted a high-speed version of Bluetooth technology, 2) working with UWB technology would be the fastest and most beneficial pathway to achieve that goal, and 3) the WiMedia MBOA UWB technology was the most advantageous solution for Bluetooth technology's future high-speed channel.

The WiMedia Alliance and its membership agreed to collaborate on a high-speed Bluetooth solution in late March. This announcement came at the Bluetooth SIG All Hands Meeting. Finalizing this agreement is a huge accomplishment for the Bluetooth SIG. More important, it is a proof point of the organization's dedication to identifying synergies and cooperating within the wireless industry to develop the best overall wireless solutions to meet member and consumer expectations.

The Bluetooth SIG now moves into the important phase of doing the work to make this vision a reality. With the March WiMedia announcement came the formation of the Bluetooth SIG PHY/MAC subgroup of the core specification working group. It is made up of experts from companies instrumental in Bluetooth wireless technology and UWB specification development such as Motorola, RF Micro Devices, Texas Instruments and CSR, among others. Together, they will work to meet the feature, profile and marketing requirements for a 2007 version of the Bluetooth specification, code named Seattle. The main requirements for the high-speed Bluetooth channel set forth by the core working group will ensure consistency of capability and design, using Bluetooth technology. It will add features including improved paring and enhanced security (see the figure).

Requirements for the new high-speed specification include the following:

• Use legacy Bluetooth wireless technology for device discovery, service discovery, error recovery and physical layer discovery, as well as re-establish the link if the UWB link is lost at any time.

• Use Bluetooth profiles to transmit data through any available alternative MAC/PHY common to both sides.

• Maintain low cost and low power of Bluetooth wireless technology. Use Bluetooth technology to turn on and off the UWB portion.

• Reuse the Bluetooth stack and profiles that may require minor modifications.

• Create additional profiles or MAC features taking advantage of the increased throughput of the new technology.

• Maintain backward compatibility with previous versions of the specification.

With the announcement of 1 billion Bluetooth enabled products shipped, Bluetooth wireless technology has secured a place in the market. In addition, the move to high-speed has received positive industry acceptance.

According to a study on the potential of a Bluetooth/UWB collaboration, commissioned by the Bluetooth SIG and conducted by the IDC industry analyst firm, “By providing a clear road map, user model guidelines, and Bluetooth/UWB tools, as well as scoping and defining the focus areas for Bluetooth and UWB, the Bluetooth SIG and member companies can help expedite and facilitate the transition, coexistence, and integration between Bluetooth technology and UWB in the market. By focusing on the applications that fit the technologies most appropriately, the Bluetooth SIG can put a stake in the ground, define its territory, and give hardware vendors a technology road map.”

No magic formula exists to predict the pace of Bluetooth's future. Despite this, the roadmap in place indicates that the Bluetooth SIG will help ensure the technology's future by continuing to meet and exceed its members' expectations, as well as the needs of consumers.

Dr. Michael Foley is the executive director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.