Bluetooth wireless technology in the home

The Bluetooth(TM)* wireless technology is a cable replacement technology that exploits the wireless interconnectivity that is possible with radio. Bluetooth chips are already available and early applications include cordless connections from mobile phones to laptop computers and wireless headsets. Even if only 10% of mobile phones and computers were to incorporate Bluetooth chips, then the technology would achieve the critical mass necessary for chip prices to fall below $5 and for the standard to become firmly established in the market-place. It is expected that Bluetooth products will be present in the home, where applications will include: conversion of the humble cellphone to a short-range cordless handset; providing a link from a PC to the Internet; home automation and cable replacement; toys and white goods. This paper introduces the Bluetooth wireless technology and its applications and provides a concise description of its air interface and protocol stack.