Hands Free Group Adopts Bluetooth Wireless Technology

    CANNES, France--Feb. 21, 2002--Bluetooth(TM) Special Interest Group (SIG), Inc. has announced two new wireless advancements from their working groups that address the needs of mobile phone users. The Bluetooth SIG Car working group has announced that their Hands-Free profile has been adopted by the Bluetooth SIG membership. The Hands-Free profile is a definition for how Bluetooth wireless technology will enable hands-free use of mobile phones in automobiles. Additionally, the Imaging working group announced the introduction of the new Imaging profile for use in wirelessly transmitting digital images.
    "The mobile phone industry is expected to be an important volume driver for the adoption of Bluetooth wireless technology in the European market and both of these profiles will play a contributing role in continuing the technology's rapid success," said Michael McCamon, chairman of the Bluetooth SIG marketing committee. "The adoption of our Hands-Free profile signifies increased interest from the automotive industry in bringing Bluetooth wireless products to market while the Imaging profile will further the ability of mobile phones and other mobile devices to interact and share content."
    The Bluetooth SIG provides a forum for companies to work together using short-range wireless technologies to solve customer problems. In response to interest by the automotive industry, the Bluetooth SIG formed the Car working group in December of 1999. The Hands-Free profile was the first of several application level specifications expected from the working group.
    Using the new Hands-Free profile, products that implement the Bluetooth specification can facilitate automatic establishment of a connection between the car's hands-free system (typically part of its audio system) and a mobile phone the driver brings into the car. Bluetooth wireless products that incorporate these new enhancements will enable a seamless, virtually automatic interface between the car and wireless products.
    The Imaging profile allows digital images to be shared among mobile devices. For example, a digital camera can share content with a mobile phone, personal computer or handheld, all using Bluetooth wireless technology. The Imaging profile will also allow images from a digital camera to be sent directly to a printer equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology. As next-generation wide area telephone networks evolve and digital content becomes more prevalent among mobile devices, Bluetooth wireless technology is expected to play a major role in driving use and adoption of new services.
    In-depth updates to the Bluetooth SIG membership and the development community regarding these efforts are planned at the upcoming annual Bluetooth Congress to be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 11-14 June, 2002.

    About the Bluetooth SIG

    Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology is set to revolutionize the personal connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections. It is a specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution providing links between mobile computers, mobile phones and other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, and network industries, is driving development of the technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes promoter group companies 3Com, Agere, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and hundreds of Associate and Adopter member companies.

    http://www.bluetooth.com
    http://www.bluetooth.org (member site)

    Note to Editors: The Bluetooth name and the Bluetooth trademarks are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. All other trade marks and names are the property of their respective owners.