The Original Bluetooth

The Original Bluetooth
Looking back at its inception, Ericsson was the first to conceive Bluetooth, which
evolved from its Multi Communicator Link (or MC-Link) technology. Ericsson initially
proposed a headset solution, but ventured into the possibility of interoperating
with other devices, such as notebooks and other communication-based devices.
Undoubtedly, this has now led to the emergence of numerous Bluetooth-enabled
products that are currently available today. Furthermore, the door has opened to what
has now become known as Personal Area Networking (PAN). Incidentally, you may
recall from Chapter 3, Comparing Wide-area and Personal-area Communications, where
we touched upon personal-area vs. wide-area technologies. The ability for your own
personal devices to interoperate with each other without the need for cumbersome
cables has led the way to create simpler ease of use scenarios for a whole range of users
and consumers alike. To begin to undertake this global vision, Ericsson spun off a new
company, Ericsson Technology Licensing, and this is where we begin to observe significant
changes within the core and founding structure of the SIG. Ericsson Technology
Licensing withdrew its interest from core Bluetooth development, causing serious
cracks within the general Bluetooth community. Ericsson claims to be a continued
proponent and key driver for the future of Bluetooth wireless technology alongside its
promoter companies. Presumably you recall that Ericsson elected to make the technology
an open global standard, in turn, allowing other manufacturers to share the
responsibility of defining the technology and to increase its wider adoption? A consortium
of promoter companies to include, Agere Systems, Ericsson Licensing
Technology, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba form the non-profit
association that is the Bluetooth SIG, in addition to the large number of Associate and
Adopter companies. You may have noticed within the series of promoters companies
that 3Com has been omitted. 3Com was a key member within the SIG until it relinquished
its position as promoter; at the time of writing the SIG have yet to replace the
void left by 3Com’s departure. You may now begin to understand that it is with these
significant cavities (3Com and Ericsson Technology Licensing) that key figures within
the SIG felt that the ship needed abandoning.