The official beginning of this wireless technology was in 1998 when five companies joined forces to develop it, but its massive spread started in 2000-2001 when it was commercialized, applicable to headphones, mobile phones, laptops, computers, printers and ‘hands free’ vans.
Named after the 10th-century Danish king who united Denmark and Norway, Bluetooth technology was developed in the late 1990s to allow a wide variety of devices to work and connect together and quickly gained enormous popularity in electronic electronics. consumption.
In 1998, a consortium of cell phone, computer and electronics companies was formed to market this wireless system, which came on the market in 2000 and got off to a quick start that led to it reaching nearly zero in its first 10 years of use. 2,000 users were applied. millions of products.
This wireless system was used for the first time in 2000 in mobile telephones, desktop computers (PCs) and headsets (headsets). 2001 was a revolutionary year in its history when it was introduced into printers, portable computers (laptops) and ‘hands free’ equipment for cars.
Bluetooth technology and its technical specifications (technology standard or protocol), which allow communication and wireless transmission of voice and data between electronic devices over a radio frequency link, has in its origin several key data that marked a before and after, about the start and popularity of this system.
In 1998, a consortium of cell phone, computer and electronics companies was formed to bring this wireless system to the consumer market, which entered the market in 2000 and started a dizzying start in 2001 leading to its first 10 years of validity Almost 2 billion Bluetooth compatible products will be shipped from this system.
Bluetooth wireless technology, named after Harald I Bluetooth, the 10th-century Danish king who united Denmark and Norway, was developed in the late 1990s to allow a wide variety of devices to work together and quickly gained enormous popularity in consumer electronics, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica (EB).
1998: ORIGIN OF WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY.
In 1998, Swedish cell phone manufacturer Ericsson launched a consortium of computer and electronics companies to launch a technology they had been developing for several years to provide computers, telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other devices with the cables needed. are to exchange data between each other.
Ericsson, which had laid the foundations for short-range radio technology for wireless headsets, together with IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba formed the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) consortium that formalized the creation of a replacement for the cable in use. to communicate voice and data between electronic devices, according to the SIG (www.bluetooth.com).
One of the fundamental objectives of this group was to ensure the standardization and interoperability of this new radio technology at close range to support connectivity and collaboration between different products and industries.
Regarding the naming of the system, the SIG reports that in a preliminary meeting of this consortium, Intel’s Jim Kardach suggested Bluetooth as a temporary code name and said that ‘King Harald’ Bluetooth ‘Gormsson was famous for bringing Scandinavia together, just as we from plan to connect the PC and cellular industries with a short-range wireless connection. “This name caught on and spread and became synonymous with short-range wireless technology.
The new technology protocol promoted by the GIS in 1998 was designed to operate at radio frequencies, rather than the infrared spectrum used by traditional remote controls, so that the devices don’t have to keep a line of sight to each other. , to communicate without cables.
Other important features that made it hugely popular were its low power consumption, which made the battery easy to use, and its relatively low cost, EB said.
This source adds that the Bluetooth SIG consortium released the Bluetooth 1.0 specifications in 1999, after a period when it seemed that the more expensive but faster IEEE 802.11b, or Wi-Fi protocol, could make Bluetooth obsolete. with which this technology began to gain ground in the market.
2000-2001: THE WIRELESS TAKE-OFF BEGINS.
The technology was first applied in mobile phones and desktop computers in 2000, and was extended to printers and portable computers (laptops) in 2001, the EB said. According to the site specialized in Bluetooth Studio, BS (https://bluetoothstudio.com), the first Bluetooth headsets were also released in 2000.
This technology spread rapidly, with 2001 being a revolutionary year in its history, with the introduction of the first printer, the first laptop and the first ‘hands-free’ car kit equipped with this wireless system. new level, according to BS.
In 2002, the system reached GPS receivers, computer keyboards and mice, and digital cameras; in 2003 it was expanded to medical equipment and MP3 players; in 2006 it was applied to picture frames and digital watches and sunglasses with audio; and in 2012 it was applied to low-consumption electronic tablets, with new expanded and improved versions of this technology being launched over the years, according to this source.
By the middle of that decade, Bluetooth cell phone headsets were nearly ubiquitous, and the technology was being incorporated into televisions and many other consumer products, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables, Bluetooth technology has become the global standard for short-range, low-power wireless connections, according to the SIG, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018 under the banner ’20 years blue ‘.
They emphasize that this technology now enables multiple forms of connection, from a simple ‘point to point’ to the introduction of so-called mesh networks or ‘mesh networks’, that is, networks with all their interconnected nodes comprising tens, hundreds or thousands of devices communicate with each other.
By the end of the first year of founding, more than 4,000 companies had registered with the Bluetooth SIG, and there are currently more than 33,000 companies that are members of this consortium.
In 2000, when Bluetooth technology was first introduced to the market, about 800,000 Bluetooth devices were shipped every year, and today, more than 10 million devices are shipped daily, according to the SIG.
“In retrospect, Bluetooth was a remarkable combination of technology and technical marketing and possibly one of the fastest advancements of a global creation standard from idea to commercial implementation,” said Glen Collinson, co-founder of Cambridge Silicon Radio, a pioneer in the field of Bluetooth.
“Bluetooth is not only a technology, but also a community of companies that continue to drive innovation and work together to continuously advance technology,” said Mark Powell, president of Bluetooth SIG, based in Kirkland, Washington.
“More than 2,300 people involved in more than 15 workgroups continue to provide new opportunities, such as the recent speed, range and data transmission enhancements added in version 5 and accelerating new markets such as smart buildings and industries. ” emphasizes.