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Bluetooth Shipments Climb to Five Million Per Week
Hong Kong S.A.R, Monday, May 30, 2005 -- (Business Wire India):
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) today announced that as a result of the growing consumer demand for Bluetooth wireless technology, the technology met the significant milestone of five million Bluetooth units shipping per week. The five million milestone demonstrates the wide acceptance of Bluetooth technology in a multitude of applications.
“Five million units shipped validates the sizeable market for Bluetooth technology - every time you blink an eye, another ten Bluetooth chipsets see the world,” said Eric Schneider, marketing director, Asia Pacific & Japan, Bluetooth SIG. “When you couple that with the recently announced collaboration between the Bluetooth SIG and UWB, Bluetooth technology will further reinforce its leading position far into the future. Even today, we expect this will have a positive impact in Bluetooth uptake.”
“The five million per week mark proves that Bluetooth technology has strong marketplace traction. Microsoft is committed to ensuring that the platform support in Windows meets the needs of the marketplace” said Harish Naidu, general manager of the Windows Device Experience Group at Microsoft Corp. “Bluetooth technology enables millions of people to cut through the clutter of cables and experience new possibilities to connect. We look forward to continued cooperation with our industry partners on Bluetooth deployments so that our mutual customers can enjoy the benefits.”
“Nokia is pleased to see the impressive numbers of Bluetooth technology deployment,” says Jyrki Rosenberg, Director, Strategic Technology Marketing, Nokia. “For Nokia, Bluetooth technology is an important element in our optimized mix of radio technologies that enables seamless connectivity and a more wireless lifestyle for customers. Already today, Nokia has introduced state-of-the-art mobile devices that allow data transmission using both high-speed cellular networks, WLAN hot spot access, and Bluetooth technology.”
The SIG’s Asia Pacific contingent is made up of more than 1,000 vendor companies working to deploy Bluetooth technology across an ever-widening variety of applications such as mobile phones, hands-free kits for cars, PDAs, laptop computers, mp3 players, mice and keyboards.
More than 100 manufacturers in Taiwan expect to produce in excess of 46 million Bluetooth-enabled devices in 2005 – up 79% from 2004, while Hong Kong makers are forecast to manufacture 5.1 million, up 135% on last year, according to a report published this month by the Greater China-focused Global Sources media company. Survey findings also anticipate growth of 125% among the 160 mainland China vendors slated to make 3.3 million Bluetooth products this year.
"We see explosive growth for Bluetooth continuing", says Shuichi Sakurai, Toshiba Group Manager of Bluetooth & Wireless Business Development. "As the US and APAC countries continue to see the expansion of current and new products for consumers. The recent announcement of collaboration with UWB can only add to Bluetooth's industry setting standards."
Bluetooth wireless technology has set its mark in every level of adoption. Since the first release of the Bluetooth Specification in 1998, over 3400 companies have become members in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Meanwhile, the number of Bluetooth products on the market is multiplying rapidly. Volumes doubled from 2003 to 2004 to an installed base of over 250 million with a continued growth likely reaching 500 million units by the close of 2005. Paired with this is the notable increase in consumer awareness of Bluetooth wireless technology [See Millward Brown survey release http://www.bluetooth.com/news/sigreleases.asp?A=2&PID=1491&ARC=1&ofs=].
About Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Bluetooth wireless technology is revolutionizing the personal connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections. It is a globally available standard that wirelessly connects mobile phones, portable computers, cars, stereo headsets, MP3 players, and more. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths — small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, robustness, ease-of-use, and ad hoc networking abilities. Bluetooth wireless technology is the leading and only proven short-range wireless technology on the market today.
About the Bluetooth SIG
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, automotive, and network industries, is driving development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes promoter group companies Agere, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, along with over 3400 Associate and Adopter member companies. The Bluetooth SIG, Inc. headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington, U.S.A. For more information please visit
www.Bluetooth.com.
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