Success of Wi-Fi Direct Could Make Bluetooth 3.0 Risky Business

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - High-Speed Bluetooth, or Bluetooth 3.0, was designed to move Bluetooth to higher speed applications. It works by using classic Bluetooth to connect to devices, then Wi-Fi to deliver speeds of up to 24Mbps. The availability of High-Speed Bluetooth via combo chips with classic BT improves its chances of success. However, a new potential alternative Wi-Fi Direct allows peer-to-peer connections between Wi-Fi devices. If Wi-Fi Direct succeeds it could eliminate the need for Bluetooth 3.0 altogether, according to In-Stat (www.in-stat.com).

“Standard Wi-Fi is increasingly common in many Bluetooth target markets,” says Brian O’Rourke, Principal Analyst. “Until recently, lack of peer-to-peer connectivity was Wi-Fi’s most significant weakness in those markets. Wi-Fi Direct addressesthat weakness and, because there is significant application overlap in PCs and mobile phones, it is a very real threat to the long term viability of Bluetooth 3.0.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

* Classic Bluetooth technology will remain dominant in phones indefinitely.
* Sony PS3 and Nintendo Wii controllers have Bluetooth.
* Bluetooth 3.0, a new high-speed standard that combines Bluetooth with Wi-Fi, entered into the market in mobile phones in 2010.
* The Bluetooth USB adapter market will remain robust due to Bluetooth’s lack of ubiquity in the mobile PC space and low penetration of desktop PCs
* PMPs, game consoles, and game controllers are the main drivers of Bluetooth growth in CE devices.
* Growth in industrial and medical markets will be driven by Bluetooth Low Energy.

Recent In-Stat research, Bluetooth 2010: Classic Dominance, LE Potential, and High-Speed Issues (#IN1004686MI), covers the worldwide market for Bluetooth technology. It includes:

* Unit forecasts for Bluetooth-enabled products by category by Bluetooth standard through 2014.
* Product categories include mobile phones, headsets, mobile and desktop PCs, USB adapters, aftermarket cards, printers and multifunction peripherals, mice and keyboards, video game consoles and controllers, handheld games, digital TVs, portable media players, camcorders, speakers, remote controllers, automotive and industrial/medical devices.
* Unit and ASP forecasts for Bluetooth semiconductors through 2014.
* Analysis of Bluetooth standards and integration.
* Examination of competitive technologies.

This research is part of In-Stat’s Multimedia & Interface service, which identifies and forecasts the markets for key interface technologies and tracks penetration of these technologies into PCs, PC peripherals, consumer electronics, communications, automotive and industrial applications. It also examines competitors, industry agendas, technology platforms, semiconductor technology and shipments. Supply and demand-side insights are combined to examine these dynamic, evolving technologies.

Report Info

* Title: Bluetooth 2010: Classic Dominance, LE Potential, and High-Speed Issues
* Service: Multimedia Interfaces
* Product Number: IN1004686MI
* Publication Date: October 2010
* Number of Pages: 57
* Price: $2,995 U.S. Dollars
* Abstract, Table of Contents, Figures & Tables
* Members Only Access: Full text HTML , PDF

About In-Stat

In-Stat’s market intelligence combines technical, market and end-user research and database models to analyze the Mobile Internet and Digital Entertainment ecosystems. Our insights are derived from a deep understanding of technology impacts, nearly 30 years of history in research and consulting, and direct relationships with leading players in each of our core markets. In-Stat provides its research through reports, annual subscriptions, consulting and advisory services to inform critical decisions. Technology vendors, equipment manufacturers, service providers and media companies worldwide rely on In-Stat to support critical business, product and technology decisions.