part 1 - Incisor.TV

TM
NEWS FROM THE BLUETOOTH™ AND SHORT RANGE RF ENVIRONMENT
IN INCISOR THIS MONTH
Welcome to the December 2005 issue of Incisor magazine.
What a busy month! As the non-technology world winds down
for the Christmas holiday period, there is no respite for those of
us working in the world of electronics. The industry’s largest
consumer electronics show - the 2006 International CES takes place in Las Vegas between the 5th and 8th of January.
This show has been identified by most of the wireless
companies that Incisor works with as a major milestone in the
calendar, with many wireless announcements being made and
new technologies being displayed.
Incisor publisher Click I.T. Ltd is recognizing the importance of
this milestone, and is staging its own independent event –
Pure Wireless – at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas at the
same time as CES.
Our aim is to provide one venue which provides a highly
focused opportunity to see the latest wireless technologies
and applications all in one place, and to meet with the people
that set the agenda for the development of wireless
technology strategies.
We have the support of the leading vendors and the wireless
associations. Pure Wireless is free to attend for visitors, and
we warmly welcome you to come and meet with Incisor and
the sponsors and exhibitors at our event. Full details are
contained in the following pages.
Thanks for your support during 2005. Have a wonderful
holiday, and then come and see us at Pure Wireless!
Vince Holton • Publisher/Editor-in-chief
Email: [email protected] • Tel: +44 (0)1730 895614
Features:
Pure Wireless –
introduction and registration . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4
Wireless industry news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-9
Just connect and listen: a no-limits
Bluetooth design for stereo wireless
by Luke D’Arcy, CSR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Fractus’ Antenna in Package – evolving the
wireless device value chain . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
New products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-19
Bluetooth – the naming of a technology
- a history lesson from Jim Kardach, Intel . . .20-22
Wireless industry intelligence
UWB / Wireless USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23-24
ZigBee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25-26
RFID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
WiMAX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
CSR announces record
Q3 financial results and
board appointment
Is there no stopping this company? CSR has
released record results for its Q3 earnings in
2005. As well as important Bluetooth design
wins this quarter including BenQ, Kyocera, LG,
Motorola, Nokia, Philips, Samsung, Siemens
and Sony, CSR has over the past six months
acquired UbiNetics, and opened a hardware
design centre in France. CSR's headcount has
now grown to 650.
Financial highlights of the results announcement
included an increase in revenue of 109 per cent to
USD162.5million and an increase in operating
profit of 150 per cent, to USD44.7million. In total,
CSR was awarded 55 cellular (handset and
headset) designs for the quarter in comparison to
22 designs for the same period in 2004. During
this period, CSR also exceeded 150million ICs
shipped to date and launched its fifth generation
BlueCore product for Bluetooth including
Wireless industry calendar of events . . . . .34
BlueCore5-Multimedia, with its enhanced DSP for
streaming stereo music.
John Hodgson, CEO CSR commented, ‘We are
delighted to have delivered record revenue,
operating profit and
operating cash flow, all of
which have more than
doubled compared to the
same quarter last year. We
have seen strong demand
for our Bluetooth solutions
in the cellular sector this
quarter in advance of the
CSR’s CEO, John
traditionally strong quarter
Hodgson, bows out on
the crest of a wave
for the consumer market.
(see accompanying story)
We are confident in the
outlook for continued revenue growth in 2006 and
remain committed to further investment in R&D to
drive revenue growth beyond 2006.’
CSR board appointment
CSR’s CEO, John Hodgson, will retire from the
company on 28 February, 2006 and John
Scarisbrick, currently a non-executive director
of the company is appointed CEO Designate
with effect from 1 December, 2005 and CEO of
the company with effect from 1 March, 2006.
John Scarisbrick, aged 52, is a veteran of the
telecommunications and semiconductor sectors
and joined the board of CSR in June 2004. He
has worked for Texas Instruments for 25 years in
a variety of senior roles including President TI
Europe. He managed TI’s $5 billion Application
Specific Products chip business and led the team
which created TI’s Digital Signal Processor
business. He is currently a non-executive
director of ARM Holdings plc, SonIM Technologies
Inc and Intrinsity Inc and is chairman of
Cambridge Positioning Systems Limited.
Incisor launches
Connections section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-33
Jobs and opportunities in the wireless sector
ISSUE 89
SEE
PAGE
Pure Wireless events
1
2
PURE WIRELESS
Incisor launches PURE WIRELESS
www.pure-wireless.com
A showcase for the
wireless industry’s
most exciting
technology
demonstrations
Venue: Twilight Room, Flamingo Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
5th - 8th January 2006
Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband, Wi-Fi/WLAN, RFID, NFC
Your chance to find out what
is REALLY happening in the
wireless world!
Incisor magazine today enjoys a unique market
profile as the only publication 100% focused on
short range wireless technologies including
Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi/WLAN, ZigBee, RFID and
NFC. While the monthly magazine provides an
opportunity to report what is happening in the
wireless industry, it is much rarer that our
readers have the opportunity to see the latest
Platinum
sponsor:
wireless applications in practice, and to discuss
technology developments with the senior
executives that make this industry tick.
In response to this situation, Incisor publisher
Click Information Terminology Ltd (Click) is
expanding its activity with a series of showcase
events under the PURE WIRELESS banner. The
first PURE WIRELESS event will take place
at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas between the 5th
- 8th January 2006, at the same time as the 2006
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is taking place.
See below for a map showing the location of the
PURE WIRELESS event at the Flamingo Hotel.
Sponsors:
2
Journalists and wireless industry observers will
travel from all over the world to attend CES,
which boasts 2,500 exhibitors. PURE WIRELESS
is an independent event and not part of CES.
However, there will be an audience of 130,000+
technology hungry people in Las Vegas for a
period of four days in January, and Click intends
to provide them with a wireless feast. The PURE
WIRELESS exhibition is free to attend for preregistered visitors (see next page).
Leading companies already confirmed as
exhibitors at PURE WIRELESS include
PURE WIRELESS
Wireless technology laid bare!
The PURE WIRELESS will provide wireless
companies with the opportunity to showcase the
state of their wireless art. The PURE WIRELESS
concept embraces the latest Bluetooth
applications shown alongside super-high speed
UWB and Wireless USB, ZigBee companies
demonstrating low-power wireless networking,
high-speed wireless networking in use as Wi-Fi
companies push the boundaries with 802.11n
and show Wi-Fi enabled cellphones, and
proponents of RFID and NFC showing how our
lives are to be transformed as everyday actions
go wireless.
Who will attend PURE WIRELESS?
More than 1500 companies receive Incisor
every month, with an audience of OEM/ODM
companies and major corporate and enterprise
users of wireless technology and this is the
opportunity to meet face to face with Incisor, and
with the companies participating at PURE
WIRELESS.
PURE WIRELESS will bring together key
players from in and around the wireless sector,
including:
• Wireless semiconductor companies
• Wireless application/solution developers
• Technologists from OEM and ODM
companies,
• Wireless technology specifiers from
corporate and enterprise businesses
• Carefully qualified members of the
international press and media
• Wireless industry analysts
associations that control the development,
implementation and ongoing management of
technology standards. PURE WIRELESS is
officially endorsed by the Bluetooth Special
Interest Group, the WiMedia Alliance, the UWB
Forum and the Wi-Fi Alliance.
For companies seeking PR opportunities, Click
will promote PURE WIRELESS to an
international database of journalists from its
own database, plus that of its pr agency partner.
Press attendance will be controlled by pre-event
registration.
Wireless Industry support
Incisor enjoys good relationships with the
Bluetooth Special Interest Group
supports PURE WIRELESS
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is
sponsoring a cocktail reception at PURE
WIRELESS, at 5.00pm on the evening of Thursday
the 5th of January. Bluetooth SIG executive
director Mike Foley will make a short speech and
presentation to PURE WIRELESS visitors. Don’t
miss this opportunity to meet face to face with
Mike and other Bluetooth SIG representatives, and
executives from leading Bluetooth and other
wireless technology companies.
PURE WIRELESS Visitor and
press registration
Visitors attend PURE WIRELESS
If you wish to attend PURE WIRELESS free of charge as an exhibition
visitor, please click the button below which will link you to the PURE
WIRELESS web site. Please complete the short ‘EXHIBITION VISITORS’ form
accessed from the Register to Attend section and the process is finished.
Press / Analyst registrations
If you are a member of the press, media or a wireless industry analyst,
you are welcome to attend PURE WIRELESS. Please click the button below
that will take you to the PURE WIRELESS web site. The Visiting Press
registration area is accessed from the Register to Attend section.
VISITORS - CLICK HERE
PRESS - CLICK HERE
Exhibiting at PURE WIRELESS
Companies wishing to participate in PURE WIRELESS should contact Vince Holton.
Exhibitor places are limited so we request contact as soon as possible.
Telephone: +44 1730 895614 · Email: [email protected]
PURE WIRELESS opening times:
Thursday - 11am – 5pm (Bluetooth SIG cocktail reception 5 – 7pm)
Friday - 10am – 5pm · Saturday - 10am – 5pm · Sunday - 10am – 3pm
www.pure-wireless.com
3
PURE WIRELESS
Pure Wireless
at the Flamingo Las Vegas
FLAMINGO LAS VEGAS
3RD FLOOR MEETING ROOM OVERVIEW
4
Bluetooth & wireless industry news
TI and China's wireless industry
discuss state of wireless in China
Leaders from Texas Instruments’ (TI) wireless
business, officials from the China Institute of
Communications (CIC), and more than 150
executives, managers and engineers from
wireless device manufacturers and operators in
China, assembled during November to discuss the
state of China's wireless industry. TI and CIC coorganized the Wireless Technology Summit, colocated with Beijing's PT/Wireless & Networks
Comm China 2005.
In opening remarks at the event, Liu Cai, CIC vice
chairman and secretary general, underscored TI's
commitment to advance China's technology market
and the pivotal role China will play in the growth of
wireless technology.
‘TI hosted a 'meeting of the minds' to look at the
future of wireless communications and the role that TI
and China manufacturers together can play in this
market,’ Gerald Kuo, director and general manager of
Texas Instruments China said. ‘China's cellular
market is at the cusp of rapid expansion, with high
growth anticipated over the coming years. To realize
this growth it will take continued collaboration and
innovation amongst wireless leaders"
According to market analysts, high growth is
anticipated for emerging markets like China.
Technology research firm Forward Concepts indicates
that between 2004 and 2008 there will be a 26
percent growth in China's wireless subscriber base
compared to industry growth of 23 percent (April
2005). This represents a great opportunity for
delivering mobile services to a largely untapped
market. TI believes that it's roadmap of 2.5G and 3G
wireless solutions, including its single-chip cell phone
solution, will enable players in the wireless value
chain to capitalize on the growing opportunities in
China and other emerging markets worldwide.
TI wireless experts highlighted the company's latest
wireless technology achievements, including its DRP
technology, which significantly reduces cost, power
requirements, board area and silicon area - critical
factors for designing high-volume, entry-level mobile
phones. It also provided an overview of its OMAP 2
architecture, which enables mobile entertainment
applications and services that will drive mass
adoption of 3G services.
Short range wireless got a look-in too. Other
discussions included the importance of mobile
applications suites for product differentiation and
maximizing handset connectivity via Bluetooth, WLAN
and mobile TV technology.
Wireless audio communication for
surround speakers - but no RF
Infra-Com Technologies, Inc., which makes ICs
for short-range wireless optical communications
in digital audio and home theater systems, is
planning to present high quality wireless
communication ICs for audio surround speakers
in the upcoming International Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Infra-Com's proprietary Diffused Infrared (DIR)
IrGate technology allows for non-line-of sight and
non-directional wireless infrared connectivity by
relying on reflections of optical beams from the
ceiling, walls, and other enclosure surfaces. InfraCom believes the technology promises a revolution
in short-range wireless audio connectivity, as it
offers an interference free, inherently secured,
uncompressed, and very low latency wireless audio
communication link.
Infra-Com plans will demonstrate its chipset
offering, presenting several audio applications
concepts and audio systems manufactured by third
party OEMs and ODMs and based on its IrGT801A
chipset and on the IrGate platform technology.
“One of the most interesting fields in the show this
year is probably the home entertainment market,
and specifically the home theater audio market,”
said Dr. Tamir Shaanan, Infra-Com’s CEO. “Our new
offering with advanced features and wireless
capabilities will support the enhancement of the
consumer experience in the digital home
environment.”
RFI Global Services partners with
connectBlue
Test and approval services company RFI has
been appointed by connectBlue as its partner to
provide all its Bluetooth qualifications and
regulatory approvals.
Based in Malmo, Sweden, connectBlue AB designs
and manufactures Bluetooth products for industrial
and commercial use. Its portfolio includes a wide
range of serial port adapters, web enablers and
network access points as well as an enabler
software development kit. RFI has already qualified
four products including a Bluetooth headset for
BMW’s motorcycle crash helmet and a wireless IO
system for industrial applications.
Steve Flooks RFI’s Bluetooth Qualification Body
said “Scandinavia is an important and growing
market for RFI and we are looking at developing our
5
foothold in the region over the next year. We are
already working with a number of Scandinavian
companies across Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
We are now also able to deliver Bluetooth Enhanced
Data Rate (EDR) test and approval services in the
region as RFI sees this feature a major advance for
Bluetooth applications.”
Bluetooth & wireless industry news continued
Swedish technology hits holiday
wish lists in US
For Incisor readers that have been
monitoring Swedish company Anoto’s efforts
to gain wide market acceptance for its
digital pen and paper technology, which had
typically been experienced via Bluetoothenabled pens from vendors such as Sony
Ericsson and Nokiia, some news from across
the pond could be of interest. According to a
survey conducted by the Macheric Company,
one of the hottest gifts in the US this holiday
season is a digital pen—the FLY Pentop
Computer recently launched for tweens. It is
based on technology developed by Anoto.
Could this be the boost Anoto needs?
In an independent consumer survey conducted
at the start of this year's holiday shopping
season in the US, FLY sailed to fourth place as
one of the most requested holiday gifts in the
electronics category for ages 12 to 75, among
3,780 shoppers in twelve regional shopping
centers across the US. The most requested
electronic products in the survey were the iPod
Nano (Apple), Xbox 360 (Microsoft), and HDTV
closely followed by the FLY Pentop Computer
(LeapFrog). That places FLY ahead of cell
phones, digital cameras equipped with MP3
players, and Gameboy Micro (Nintendo).
Hidden beneath the shell, the FLY Pentop
Computer is driven by Swedish technology
developed by Anoto, which is just about the best
Fly Pentop Computer – 2005’s funkiest gift
established supplier of technology for digital
pens and paper. The digital pen transfers
handwritten information from paper to any
computer where the information can be
processed as notes, e-mail, or data.
Earlier this year, Anoto AB announced a
technology licensing partnership with LeapFrog
Enterprises, the company behind the
development of the FLY Pentop Computer and a
line of other educational products for children
and tweens, to jointly develop a new platform
leveraging Anoto's digital pen and paper
technology. FLY is a new platform, designed to
bring the power of computer interactivity to the
most prolific and user-friendly interface of all pen and paper.
LeapFrog claims that the FLY Pentop Computer
is the first consumer electronics device that
gives users real-time audio feedback as they
write and draw on special FLY paper, making
what they write come to life. For instance, a FLY
Pentop Computer user can draw a calculator,
touch the handwritten digits and functions to
perform an operation, and hear the answer
announced from the FLY Pentop Computer. A
user can also write a word and hear it translated
to another language, or draw a piano keyboard
or drum set and play it.
It is not all plain sailing though. Anoto and
LeapFrog are thought to have invested in the
region of $100 million in making FLY fly. And this
while LeapFrog’s sales have been falling, its
share price crashing and the company dealing
with a major commercial scandal. Whether the
interest expressed in Macheric’s survey will be
converted into sales, and whether LeapFrog
itself can hang on in there, ditto the partnership
with Anoto, remains to be seen.
For those who do want to make their children’s
day by buying them an educational present, FLY
is now available in stores in the US (or online at
www.flypentop.com) at an MSRP of USD 99.99
(SEK 800), and it is targeted at youth from age 8
to 14.
All I want for Christmas is my
Blue front teeth …
As we move into the Christmas holiday
season, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group
has taken steps to help solve the problem of
what to buy the man – or woman - who has
everything.
Acknowledging that the there are a huge
number of fancy consumer products on the
market featuring Bluetooth wireless technology,
the Bluetooth SIG and its member companies
have made a Bluetooth gift guide to provide giftbuyers all over the world with an overview of
products that are available and the different
applications they support. The gift guide
contains a variety of products featuring
Bluetooth, most of them having already been
released, or are about to be.
The gift guide can be downloaded at the
following link:
https://www.porternovelli.be/client/
bluetooth/public
6
Bluetooth & wireless industry news continued
GN claims world’s market leadership
within headsets
After publishing its quarterly results, GN
believes it has taken over the position as the
world’s largest manufacturer of headsets in
terms of revenue. The entire revenue in GN’s
headset divisions has in the third quarter of
2005 reached DKK one billion Danish Kroner
(DKK) for the first time, the exact figure
amounting to DKK 1079 million.
The headset divisions, GN Mobile – which
embraces the well-known Jabra range of Bluetooth
headsets - and GN Netcom, now operate in over 30
countries, and sell products in more than 80
countries worldwide through 80.000 retail outlets.
On the global consumer market for headsets, GN
Mobile is currently generating annual growth rates
estimated at more than 50 per cent a year.
‘We have proved that a Danish company can be
the market leader on a market that requires
innovation and competitive prices. We have only
our employees to thank for the fact that we are now
market leading in a growth market, says Jørn
Kildegaard, President and CEO, GN.
According to market analysts, the global market
for wireless Bluetooth headsets continues to
expand in coming years. By the end of 2010, the
total number of sold units is expected to reach 182
million units, according to an IMS prognosis from
September 2005.
See ‘Best-seller updated – Jabra BT500’
elsewhere in this issue.
Brainboxes mods Bluetooth card for
Windows Mobile 5.0
Brainboxes has launched software to
enable its BL-565 CompactFlash (CF)
Bluetooth card, to be used in Microsoft’s new
Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. The
BL-565 is fairly unusual amongst CF cards as
it is a class 1 device offering a range of over
100 metres.
Windows Mobile 2005 was announced in May
this year and is based on Windows CE 5.0. It
includes a number of significant productivity and
multimedia enhancements such as Direct3D
Mobile, a graphics solution built on DirectX,
which uses Microsoft's desktop technology.
Brainboxes’ new software enables Bluetooth
settings and priorities to be customised and a
Connection Manager function provides a guide
through the process of setting up a Bluetooth
connection. The software also allows the user to
easily create a Microsoft ActiveSync connection
- used to synchronise a PDA and a PC - with only
a few taps of the screen and using the
software’s favourites section, to access any
connection without repeating the full setup
process.
Eamonn Walsh, managing director of
Brainboxes commented, “We are delighted that
so soon after the long awaited launch of the new
Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system we are
able to offer products which are fully
compatible.”
Brainboxes was also recently named
Manufacturer of the Year at the Elektra European
Electronics Industry Awards.
Music trial taps into Bluetooth
Bluetooth could soon be used for streaming
music to mobile phones. Nokia and music
label EMI have started a project to let coffee
shop customers listen to music sent to their
phone via Bluetooth.
As well as music, customers will be able to get
hold of ringtones, wallpaper, video clips and
vouchers. The first free tests of the service will
be in six coffee shops and music stores in
Helsinki, Finland.
The trials will take place in three Robert's
Coffee cafes in Helsinki and three
FreeRecordShop music stores in the city. While
in the shops, customers will be able to select
Nokia phones such as the N90 can be used in the music trial.
Though maybe this guy should be using a RAZR?
and listen to tracks sent to them via the shortrange radio system. Triallists must download
7
software to their handsets that will let them
browse the tracks on offer. The service is
designed to work with Series 60 Symbian
phones (such as Nokia's N90 and the Siemens
SX1) and Nokia Series 40 phones (such as the
6060 and the 8800).
The trial service, dubbed bFree, will be free for
those taking part. But Nokia and EMI expect to
charge for access to the playlists if a
commercial system is rolled out. EMI has yet to
say which artists will be available on the trial
playlists. EMI represents such artists as Robbie
Williams, Goldfrapp and Gorillaz.
Bluetooth & wireless industry news continued
Danish Health Dept embraces
Bluetooth
The Health Department of Copenhagen’s
Municipality has, in conjunction with CSC
Scandihealth, worked on the implementation
of KOS (Copenhagen’s Care System), where
CSC Scandihealth’s Vitae Journal has been the
driving force. One of the main objectives was
to equip 20,000 Municipal care workers with
handheld systems which would enable them
to access updated assignment lists constantly
without any restrictions. The system is based
on a BLIP Systems network with over 400
Bluetooth Access points serving 3000 PDAs
for the Elderly Care System.
Previously, assignments were written out on
paper each morning and distributed to the
Municipal workers. Times of each visit with an
elderly citizen were noted by hand on a piece of
paper, as were any changes. This information
was then manually entered onto a computer at
a later stage. Eventually, this placed far
too much administrative strain.
The solution to the problem was handheld
devices, although there was an uncertainty as to
how the technology behind it would allow the
system to be most effective. Copenhagen
Municipality, advised by HandStep, contacted
BLIP Systems, which specialises in the
development of Bluetooth systems.
When deciding between the choice of a
traditional WLAN solution and the newer
Bluetooth solution, it was an easy decision to
make for Copenhagen Municipality. The chosen
Bluetooth network product – BlipNet - consists of
Bluetooth Access Points, which are connected to
the central Blip Server. The Blip Server allows
remote monitoring of the access points, central
security handling, central admission control and
automatic connection establishment. All these
features have made it possible to administer and
monitor this geographically widely spread
network from one location. The Bluetooth solution
also has the major advantage of using far less
power than a WLAN solution, which was of
considerable importance, since the handheld
devices are in continuous use throughout the day
by the Municipal care workers.
Søren Bonde-Andersen, IT Project Leader of
Information at Copenhagen Municipal Health
Department, commented on the implementation
of the system. ‘Naturally, we experienced some
technical start-up difficulties, when the IT
department had to learn the system, but all in all
we are extremely satisfied. The Municipal care
workers can now avoid chaotic morning
meetings, where everyone attempts to update
their handheld devices instead of using their time
constructively.’
Søren Bonde-Andersen also said that the last of
the total 7 city areas will have implemented BLIP
System solutions before the end of the year.
Intelligent ski-centre is created in Telemark
BLIP Systems and the communication
Agency N'volve have developed and
coordinated another Location Based Service
solution. The two companies claim they have
created the world's first intelligent ski-centre
in Telemark, Norway using LBS technology.
From January 2006 Vrådal Panorama ski-centre,
Norway, will incorporate an intelligent service
system providing its visitors with information
through their mobile phones using Bluetooth
technology.
The centre in Vrådal, Telemark will provide a truly
interactive holiday, allowing skiers with a
Bluetooth-enabled phone to receive information
about activities in the area, up-to-date news,
such as the conditions and availability of ski-lifts,
the weather forecast as well as the day’s specials
at the various local cafes and restaurants.
connectBlue ranked the fastest
growing communication company
in Sweden
In the "Sweden Technology Fast 50",
connectBlue was ranked number one in the
segment "communication" and number four in
total. connectBlue makes industrial Bluetooth
enabled products and complete wireless
solutions for industrial use.
The audit was organized by Deloitte AB, a member
of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, an organization of firms
that provide professional services and advice to more
than half of the world's largest companies. Thanks to
this ranking, connectBlue will be part of the "Europe
Fast 500". connectBlue won its place as number one
in the segment "communication" thanks to the
exceptional growth of 1334% from 2000 to 2004.
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"We are very proud to be highly ranked in the
"Sweden Technology Fast 50", it is an important
recognition of our unique expertise and growth,"
said Rolf Nilsson, President of connectBlue. "Our
success is staying focused in industrial wireless
solutions, which is an area with exponential growth
potential."
Bluetooth & wireless industry news continued
CSR named techMARK Company
of the Year
CSR plc has collected yet another prestigious
industry title to add to its growing collection of
noteworthy accolades. The techMARK
Company of the Year Award was presented to
Paul Goodridge, finance director for CSR at an
event held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London
on 22nd November. The award, sponsored by
Piper Jaffray, recognises CSR's outstanding
commercial and technological achievements
over the past year.
Past recipients of Company of the Year include,
iSoft Group and Alizyme plc and this year, CSR
defeated strong competition from Wolfson
Microelectronics, royalblue Group, Gyrus Group
and Aveva Group to scoop the top accolade. In
order to be shortlisted, a company must have
demonstrated sound commercial and financial
success based on their technological
development. In addition, companies will also
have proven outstanding long-term growth
potential and a solid strategy to develop
shareholder value in the future.
Accepting the award, Goodridge commented,
"This is testament to the commitment and hard
work invested by all our technical development
and marketing teams around the world. This has
truly been an outstanding year for us. Our Q3
2005 results set new records for revenue and
profit growth and our new generation of
Bluetooth technology ensures that we continue
to lead the market in terms of both market share
and technical innovation."
Things continue to go pretty well for the
Cambridge trailblazer. During the last twelve
months, CSR has acquired Clarity Technologies
Inc and UbiNetics in order to help the company
develop its technology offerings and expand its
software development resource, and has also
opened offices and development centres in
Lund, Sweden and Sophia Antipolis, France.
Through this programme of expansion, the
company has grown in size to 671 employees
worldwide.
And when Incisor looked at the CSR web site
today, the company’s share price had increased
such that CSR’s valuation had cracked the
magic £1 Billion mark.
Quite a success story.
Organisations admit to needing help
with their mobile strategy
Organisations are in serious need of help
with developing their technology strategy to
support mobile employees. This is the finding
of recent research published by IDC focusing
on end-user feedback on mobile solution
providers.
"It might sound obvious, but IT managers have
so many demands on their time that they need to
keep things simple. Keeping up to date with
convergence, different partnerships, the overlap
between solution providers, and over-enthusiastic
account managers is causing headaches for
businesses and decision makers trying to support
their mobile employees," said Lars Vestergaard,
research director, European Wireless and Mobile
Telecommunications, IDC.
IDC's latest research found that organisations
have been hesitant to proactively support their
mobile employees because on the face of it, the
options appear complex and the prices
unpredictable. This has allowed employees to
initiate their own purchases and usage forms,
which is the cause of much concern for the
technology team trying to support them.
Vestergaard continued, "Companies are now
realising that they cannot continue along this nonstrategic path. A good strategic approach requires
consultative support - vendors that understand the
needs of the business and can build a solution to
match them. In order for this to really succeed, we
foresee a significant rise in the necessity for
managed services around mobility solutions, as
organisations increasingly want to remove the
uncertainty and rely on the experts. In this respect,
it is important that vendors focus on their core
business and that mobile operators, for example,
do not pretend to be systems integrators."
The increasing significance of ad-hoc
partnerships and the benefits of wrap solutions in
mobile managed services were amongst the
discussion topics at IDC's Mobility 2005 London
event, which took place during November.
Snippets
Snippets
GENERAL
What's All The Noise About?
At a time when people are hung up about
phone-related privacy issues and when the
ringing of mobile phones is seen as a nuisance in
public places, one UK company is sailing into the
wind. As its name implies, the 'Noisyphone' rings
at levels unheard of by any other telephone
available in the UK. It delivers a seriously loud
ringtone volume of up to a massive 43DB, making it
particularly ideal for the hard of hearing as well as
those working in workshops, factories or
environments where there is a lot of background
9
noise. To put this into perspective, the noise level
in the front row of a rock concert is 110 decibels,
and the threshold of pain is 130 decibels.
Noisyphone may not be drowning out Motorhead
or making your ears bleed, but we imagine that
there will be a rush to answer the phone.
©2005 Staccato Communications
The race is on.
Get ready to go. It’s time to accelerate your Wireless USB
and Bluetooth-over-UWB development plans, to offer greater
value to your customers’ use of mobile, PC and consumer
electronics products.
Staccato Communications anticipated the marriage of Bluetooth and UWB, so when
we created the Ripcord W-USB Developer’s Kit, we built it to support Bluetooth
development as well. It includes our single-chip system-in-package (SiP) – priced to
enable production under $10 per node.
W-USB is here. Bluetooth-over-UWB is here. Let the race begin.
Contact [email protected]
10
Staccato has been selected as one of Red
Herring’s 100 Hottest Private Companies
of North America. Congratulations to the
hardworking folks at Staccato who made
this happen.
Just connect and listen:
a no-limits Bluetooth design
for stereo wireless
by Luke D'Arcy, CSR
The attractions of using Bluetooth
technology for stereo headphones are
compelling. There is undoubtedly a huge
market potential for this next evolution of
Bluetooth enabled products. However, some
of the initial commercial attempts in this
area have self-imposed limitations that
could restrict their potential applications,
related to the choice of compression
coding/decoding formats needed to transmit
stereo over a Bluetooth link.
In order to ensure interoperability, products
employing the Bluetooth AV Profile must work
with the Bluetooth SIG's mandatory
compression coding/decoding scheme - Sub
Band Coding or SBC. Standardisation on SBC is
useful. However, it doesn't match the formats
that consumers use to store their music, which
are typically standards such as MP3, WMA and
AAC. And that means that if stereo headphones
support only SBC, then the music player,
phone or other device has to perform
'transcoding' to decompress/recompress files
before transmission.
Leaving aside the issue of quality degradation
after such an operation, transcoding is highly
processor-intensive - draining the battery. This
can be an issue when the process is performed
by an application-specific processor inside a
dedicated music player. However, if performed
using the processor/DSP resources inside a
device such as a cellphone, then power
consumption can be even higher due to nonoptimised instruction types. In fact, transcoding
can consume as much as 80% of the processor
bandwidth of some typical processor cores used
inside today's cellphones.
And there's another related issue as well: SBC
is less efficient at compacting files compared
with formats such as MP3, so a higher duty
CSR's blueTunes1 reference design for stereo headphones
cycle is required to stream SBC files, consuming
more power and impacting link reliability.
(Around 18% of standard - non-EDR - Bluetooth
bandwidth is required to stream an MP3 file at
128 kbits/s; by contrast, SBC would require
350kbits/s rates or around 50% of available
bandwidth).
A REFERENCE DESIGN
To bypass this limitation, CSR has exploited the
architecture of its DSP-equipped BlueCore3Multimedia device to a create a reference
design that opens up the wider potential of the
Bluetooth stereo headphones market to all
OEMs. The headphones design - BlueTunes1 provides a ready to use design with coding
software for both SBC and MP3 formats. It
consumes less than 95mW (25mA at 3.7V) when
receiving streamed SBC music over a standard,
non-EDR, Bluetooth channel, and considerably
less when receiving MP3 files. (Out of interest,
25mA current consumption was fairly typical for
a state-of-the-art mono Bluetooth headset just
one year ago!) If BlueCore3-Multimedia's ability
to receive EDR files is employed, then
consumption drops by a further major step.
The application-specific DSP incorporated
inside this BlueCore device also performs echo
11
and noise cancellation when switched to act as
a Bluetooth headset (and additionally offers
eSCO for quality of service). This functionality is
based on the renowned CVC or 'clear voice
capture' software derived from Clarity
Technologies - now CSR Detroit. The technology
liberates industrial designers to create attractive
and compact products that might otherwise
suffer from degraded performance due to the
proximity of speaker and microphone.
The integration of both the DSP and a stereo
CODEC inside BlueCore3-Multimedia ensures a
compact design with a very small electronic bill
of materials for such an advanced product, of
less than $8 (photo).
CSR's proven and tested design may be put
into volume production immediately. However,
modifications may also be made via the BlueLab
3 development kit, giving users complete
freedom of development (which in itself is
unusual for the Bluetooth marketplace). In this
instance, custom modifications might range
from adding further compression formats, to
desirable hardware additions for a high-end
headphone product - such as adding an LCD, or
an SD Card interface.
(It's worth mentioning in passing that the
software builds on previous CSR headset
software, which is used in a majority of headsets
on the market, and is extremely robust incorporating hundreds of workarounds to
ensure Bluetooth interoperability. This feature
can dramatically reduce time to market.)
REAL ESTATE AND BATTERIES
The physical size and power consumption of
headphone electronics are absolutely critical to
the choice of platform, and CSR's design has
been highly optimised in this respect.
To illustrate this, CSR has analysed the designs
“ Transcoding could consume as
much as 80% of the processor
bandwidth of some typical cores
used inside today's cellphones.
”
of alternative solutions, and for a typical
competitor, the relative BOMs are 27
components for the BlueCore3-Multimedia,
against 77. The CSR BOM reduces even further
to 15 components if highly-integrated
'Plug'n'Go' variant of BlueCore is used. (Note
that this exercise ignores the added value in
the CSR product, notably the integrated echo
and noise cancellation.)
Analysed from a power perspective against the
same competitive silicon, consumption is of the
order of a half or less, providing a major boost to
Operational mode
the battery life of headphone designs (Table).
CSR's stereo headphone reference design,
BlueTunes1, can be viewed at:
http://www.csr.com/applications/headsets.htm
Competitive device
BlueCore3-Multimedia
On a call (SCO, HV3, master)
~112 mW
~45 mW
Streaming music (SBC)
~180 mW
~95 mW
Standby (page scan)
~3.3 mW
~1 mW
Table. Stereo headphone power consumption analysis.
Sponsored contribution
Airport IT spending is on the increase
Results of the 2005 Airport IT Trends
Survey, presented to industry leaders at the
Airports Council International (ACI) world
conference held recently in Auckland, New
Zealand, provide strong evidence that
investment in new information technologies
such as check-in kiosks, wireless
connectivity and biometrics, promise to
make the experience for the four billion
passengers travelling through airports each
year faster, safer, and more productive. The
survey also shows that airports’ IT spending
is increasing both as a percentage of
revenues and in real terms.
Respondents to the annual survey conducted
by SITA, ACI and Airline Business, represent
nearly 50% of revenue at the top 200 airports,
based on the latest Airline Business magazine
financial rankings.
• Self-service check-in kiosks: at least 42%
of airports globally have already deployed
some form of self-service kiosk and the
results show that, over the next two years,
this figure will rise to 70%
• WiFi access: over 90% of airports surveyed
will offer public access to a WiFi network
within the next two years
• Managed network services: Within the next
two years, 75% of airports will have an
airport-wide communication network to
support new passenger and airline services,
such as Voice over IP (VoIP)
• Biometric identification: 33% of airports
plan to deploy a biometric identification
system for check-in and boarding within the
next four years, an eleven fold increase on
today’s figure
show that airport IT investment levels have
climbed to 4.6% of revenues, up from 4.1% last
year. With passenger numbers continuing to
rise, leading to increased airport revenues, the
trend for increasing IT budgets in the future
looks positive. We estimate that airport IT spend
in 2005 is around the US$2.5bn level.”
The survey also presents a picture of an airport
industry rapidly adapting to the challenges
posed by significant traffic growth and the
needs of the increasingly influential low cost
carrier sector and airline alliance groups.
Airport operators are making smarter use of
technology to help meet these challenges. In
particular, shared-use service models have
provided airports with flexibility in assigning
limited space and facilities to airlines with the
ability to scale operations, both critical
operational imperatives in today’s highly
competitive marketplace.
John Jarrell, SITA Senior Vice President, Airport
and Desktop Services, said, “The survey results
12
Staying connected
To complement the speeding up of the checkin process, the survey shows that airports are
increasingly providing passengers with
alternative ways to use their time, including the
provision of wireless Internet capabilities,
allowing travellers to stay connected while they
wait for their flights.
The clear choice is WiFi: over 90% of airports
surveyed said they already offered or planned to
offer it in the next two years. Other technologies
being considered by airports are mobile phone
applications for both remote check-in and mcommerce, which allow travellers to purchase
goods and services within the airport terminals.
To date, these have only been implemented in
around 5% of airports. However, within two
years as mobile connectivity becomes all
pervasive, this figure is expected to rise to the
40% level.
Fractus’ Antenna in Package –
evolving the wireless device
value chain
Only one component is essential for every
single wireless device. The antenna.
Consumer demand for smaller, more
fashionable devices with more functionality
means that device manufacturers have to fit
more applications into less space, with constant
pricing pressure. The antenna is critical, but
often takes up too much space, and has to be
integrated into each new product.
Now a new technology, Antenna in Package
(AiPTM), could change the way the way
antennas are designed, manufactured and
assembled.
Developed by Barcelona-based antenna
producer Fractus, AiP will also evolve the
antenna value chain for the production of small
wireless devices. Designers of small wireless
devices from handsets to USB dongles will no
long need RF expertise. The antenna and chipset
will be part of a standard electronics component
that takes up very little space on the PCB.
ANTENNA IN PACKAGE
Fractus CTO Dr. Carles Puente submitted the
world’s first patent for a fractal antenna in 1995,
and in 1999 he set up Fractus with telecoms
consultant Ruben Bonet, now CEO. The company
now has more than 37 patent families relating to
fractal technology applied to the development of
Fractal Antennas® and wireless devices. Its
operations include R&D centres in Spain and
Korea and manufacturing facilities through Asia
and Eastern Europe. Millions of Fractus internal
antennas are embedded and optimised in
mobile handsets, Bluetooth and stereo
headsets, W-USB adapters, PDAs and GPS,
gaming and other devices worldwide.
Over the last 36 months, one of Fractus’ R&D
programmes has focused on the development of
AiP.
“Fractus has developed and proved the
AiP thus reduces BOM and assembly costs for
the manufacturer and cuts design complexity for
the designer. This allows for lower product
development costs and a way to help retain
margin for the OEM/ODM in a wireless world of
ever-increasing price pressure.
AiP is compatible with low cost BGA, LGA, PGA
and QFN packages and other common
semiconductor packaging technologies. The
power requirements of an AiP antenna are no
different to those of a traditional internal
antenna so there is no power penalty. Space
savings though are significant. In a typical
mobile handset a Bluetooth module will take up
220mm2 and the antenna and its required
clearance a further 130mm2. An AiP Bluetooth
module and clearance for the same device
would take up just 135mm2, freeing up more
than 60% of the space taken by the antenna.
Fractus AiP technology
integrated into a Bluetooth
adapter
commercial viability of AiP technology,” said
Ruben Bonet. “Our work with ST
Microelectronics and other major semiconductor
companies worldwide shows that this
innovation is no longer a theory discussed by
PhD’s. It’s here and available today.”
NEW GEOMETRIES BUT NO NEW PROCESSES
Fractus technology is based on the application
of fractal mathematics to the design and
development of miniaturised and multi-band
antennas. It does not require the wireless
industry to work with new materials or
manufacturing processes. This means that
miniature antennas with multiple short-range
wireless frequencies and/or multiple
communications standards can be built into
electronics packages along with other active
and/or passive wireless components using
traditional package manufacturing processes –
creating a seamlessly integrated antenna.
AIP FREQUENCIES
AiP antennas are available today for the key
short-range wireless frequencies – Bluetooth,
WiFi, Zigbee and GPS. UWB is currently under
study. Cellular standards are less likely to
appear in AiP at least in the short term because
of the typically small package size.
A 2.4GHz AiP Bluetooth antenna for a handset,
using a conventional IC process, can occupy a
surface of 2mm x 9.3mm. With a more
specialised IC process, the antenna can be
reduced to 1.8mm x 3.8mm and still provide
effective performance within Bluetooth’s 10m
range.
“Our research shows that an AiP antenna and
chipset in a package will deliver at least
equivalent performance to a traditional internal
antenna in the same position in a mobile
device,” Carles Puente said. “The developer is
free to use the extra space for additional
applications, or to create a smaller device.”
continued
13
AIP IN PRACTICE
Fractus has recently worked with
STMicroelectronics to develop demonstrator
versions of the semiconductor company’s IPAD
packages with AiP Bluetooth antennas. Three
demonstrator package sizes have been
produced – 2.8 x 2.8mm, 4.3 x 4.2mm and 5.8
x 6.5mm. The smaller package delivers up to
28% mean efficiency in the 2.4 to 2.5GHz range,
while the larger 5.8 x 6.5mm model delivers
around 58% mean efficiency. These results are
significantly better than those achieved by many
currently available Bluetooth devices with
traditional antennas.
EVOLVING THE ANTENNA VALUE CHAIN
AiP packages can thus save space and cut
production costs and complexity, but they could
also completely change the antenna value chain.
At present, to achieve Bluetooth
communications, a developer needs to find a
chipset, design an antenna and match them
within the device. With AiP, the antenna already
matches the chipset. The developer only needs
to match the package to the device, saving
significantly on product development time.
Device producers will be able to specify
standard AiP components that will not have to be
re-assessed with every new model. AiP packages
are independent of the shape and model of PCB,
further reducing development costs.
A more significant change is that, instead of
the antenna company developing an antenna for
the device, the antenna can be developed by the
semiconductor company as an integral
component of a wireless communications
package.
Instead of fitting into the value chain at the
‘board stuffing’ stage, antennas will be built in at
the much earlier semiconductor production
stage, simplifying all following processes.
Semiconductor companies can work with
Fractus on antenna design or develop their own
in-house antenna capabilities, depending on
their preferred business model.
“AiP is a significant opportunity for component
producers to move higher up the value chain,”
Tim Hillison, Fractus Director of Short-Range
Wireless & Marketing said. “It enables them to
incorporate a major sector of wireless value
chain into their own products, and to deliver
significantly greater value to their clients. AiP
gives them the opportunity to become solution
providers rather than just component
producers.”
www.fractus.com
Sponsored contribution
Snippets
Snippets
GENERAL
Q3 chip shipments: healthy
First, the good news. September 2005 and
third quarter semiconductor shipments have
been posted by the World Semiconductor
Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization. For
September 2005, world integrated circuit
sales (excluding discretes and opto) were $19.8
billion on a 3-month moving average basis,
which was an increase of 24.8% above August's
$15.86 billion. September 2005 IC shipments
were up 10.2% from September 2004's $17.96
billion. For the third quarter, IC shipments were
up 9.5% over Q2/05 to $49.7 billion.
Programmable DSP shipments in September
were up a very respectable 26% to the $791
million level, while quarterly shipments were
up 7.2% to the $1.97 billion level, virtually
identical to Q3/04's level.
TIs' OMAP 2 architecture for NTT
DoCoMo's new 3G FOMA handsets
Texas Instruments' OMAP2420 application
processor has been selected for the new NTT
DoCoMo's FOMA 902i series 3G handsets.
Expected to launch later this year, these
handsets will represent the first OMAP 2-based
mobile devices on the market. TI's OMAP 2 "Allin-One" entertainment architecture delivers the
latest 3G mobile entertainment applications,
such as 3D gaming, 3+-megapixel cameras,
digital camcorders and TV output. TI's
wireless solutions power more than 50
percent of 3G handsets shipped today.
Samsung and LG secure Top 3 North
America handset market share positions
The latest Strategy Analytics Wireless
Device Strategies (WDS) report, "North
America Handset Market Q3' 2005," finds
that LG Electronics and Samsung have solidified
their positions, at 20 percent and 17 percent
respectively, reigning with Motorola as top 3
handset share leaders in the North American
market for Q3 2005. Strategy Analytics expects
that these vendors will maintain their
positions through 2006 as they continue to
set style/design and product delivery
benchmarks that consistently outpace their
closest competitors.
Strategic realignment for Infineon
Infineon’s Supervisory Board has agreed to
a proposal from the Management Board
concerning the company’s strategic
realignment. The objective is to create two
focused and independent companies, one for
Logic and one for Memory Products. Infineon
says the realignment reflects fundamental shifts
in target markets, characterized by changing
market conditions and business processes. The
Memory Products business will be carved out as
a legally independent entity by July 1, 2006. As
a next step, Infineon will consider an IPO of the
Memory Products Company as the preferred
option. Infineon, as the parent company, will
focus on the Logic business, comprised of the
business groups Automotive, Industrial
Electronics and Multimarket (AIM) and
Communications (COM).
14
Incisor launches PURE WIRELESS
www.pure-wireless.com
A showcase for the
wireless industry’s
most exciting
technology
demonstrations
Venue: Twilight Room, Flamingo Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
5th - 8th January 2006
Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband, Wi-Fi/WLAN, RFID, NFC
Your chance to find out what is REALLY happening in the wireless world!
Incisor publisher Click Information Terminology Ltd (Click) is expanding its activity with a series of showcase events under the
PURE WIRELESS banner. The first PURE WIRELESS event will take place at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas between the
5th – 8th January 2006. The PURE WIRELESS exhibition is free to attend for pre-registered visitors (see below).
Wireless technology laid bare!
PURE WIRELESS will provides wireless companies with the opportunity to showcase the state of their wireless art. See the
latest Bluetooth applications alongside super-high speed UWB and Wireless USB, ZigBee,
Wi-FiWLAN, RFID and NFC showing how our lives are to be transformed as everyday actions go wireless.
PURE WIRELESS will bring together key players from in and around the wireless sector, including:
Wireless semiconductor companies • Wireless application/solution developers
Technologists from OEM and ODM companies • Wireless technology specifiers from corporate and enterprise businesses
Carefully qualified members of the international press and media • Wireless industry analysts
For companies seeking PR opportunities, Click will promote PURE WIRELESS to an international database of journalists from
its own database, plus that of its pr agency partner. Press attendance will be controlled by pre-event registration.
Bluetooth Special Interest Group supports PURE WIRELESS
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is sponsoring a cocktail reception at PURE WIRELESS,
at 5.00pm on the evening of Thursday the 5th of January.
PURE WIRELESS Visitor and press registration
Visitors attending PURE WIRELESS
Press / Analyst registrations
If you wish to attend PURE WIRELESS free of charge as an
exhibition visitor, please click the button below which will link
you to the PURE WIRELESS web site.
If you are a member of the press, media or a wireless industry analyst,
you are welcome to attend PURE WIRELESS. Please click the button
below that will take you to the PURE WIRELESS web site.
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
Exhibiting at PURE WIRELESS
PURE WIRELESS opening times:
Companies wishing to participate in PURE WIRELESS should
contact Vince Holton.
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Telephone: +44 1730 895614 · Email: [email protected]
11 am – 5 pm (Bluetooth SIG cocktail reception 5 – 7pm)
10 am – 5 pm
10 am – 5 pm
10 am – 3 pm
Sponsors:
Platinum
sponsor:
Endorsed by:
Pure Wireless is an independent event managed by Click I.T. Ltd, and is not affiliated to or endorsed by the Consumer Electronics Show
New products
Nokia brings Bluetooth to a pair of
new CDMA handsets
Nokia has expanded its range of Bluetoothenabled CDMA handsets with the mid-range
Nokia 2855 and 6165 phones. Each weighing
under 4 ounces, both the Nokia 2855 and Nokia
6165 phones are compatible with the evergrowing range of Bluetooth enabled accessories
such as wireless headsets and car kits as well as
other Bluetooth enabled devices including laptop
PC's and now cars too. Besides Bluetooth
technology, both the Nokia 2855 and 6165 phones
feature support for downloadable Java or BREW
applications, streaming audio
and video content and
customizable MIDI ringtones.
Nokia 2855
This is Nokia's most affordable
Bluetooth enabled CDMA handset,
with a 128 x 160 pixel 262K color
main display and customizable
themes that make the Nokia 2855
phone unique for each owner. For maximum
productivity on the go, the Nokia 2855 phone features
an extensive phonebook with room for up to 500
entries - each allowing for 5 phone numbers, e-mail
address, web address and a notes field per entry.
Additional features of the Nokia 2855 phone include:
• Integrated handsfree speakerphone
• Voice memo recorder and voice dialing
• High-fidelity MP3/AAC ringtone support
Nokia 6165 phone
The Nokia 6165 phone shares the feature set of the
Nokia 2855 phone, and adds a full one-megapixel
camera with support for capturing, sending and
viewing video, streaming video, flash and built-in
infrared technology to provide support for all major
types of connectivity - Bluetooth, USB cable, and
infrared. Support for location-based services allows
mobile applications that take advantage of
positioning information for accessing information on
nearby points of interest, directions
and more.
"With the Nokia 2855 and 6165
phones, Nokia is filling a gap for
Bluetooth technology enabled
CDMA handsets at a mid range
price point," said Larry Paulson,
vice president of product
marketing for Nokia's CDMA
business group. "Along with the
Bluetooth technology, consumers
will be attracted by the hallmark
Nokia design and will appreciate
the ease of use delivered by the
signature Nokia user interface,
Nokia 6165 adds
while operators will be drawn by
1 megapixel
the ability to deliver value-added
camera
services
like
applications,
messaging and ringtones."
Both the Nokia 2855 and 6165 phones are expected
to be available during the first half of 2006.
First MP3 wireless streaming GSM
handsets from Samsung
Samsung will ship its first GSM handsets to offer
stereo streaming capability based around CSR’s
BlueCore silicon and software stack. The SGH-E750
and SGH-E760 use CSR's BlueCore3-ROM (BC3ROM) and proprietary BlueCore Host Software
(BCHS) to offer wireless connectivity with other
Bluetooth devices. Both handsets also wirelessly
stream MP3 music via Bluetooth to the new
generation of Bluetooth stereo headsets, such as
Samsung's own SBH100. The SBH100 headset also
uses CSR's BlueCore and, as with standard
mono Bluetooth headsets, also enables handsfree
voice calls.
Both tri-band handsets follow Samsung's familiar
clamshell design and integrate 1.3Megapixel cameras.
The SGH-E750 camera also features an integrated
flash and the SGH-E760 includes a digital power amp
and dual speakers for enhanced audio. Both handsets
also feature new functions such as a digital compass
and gesture recognition for enhanced mobile gaming.
CSR’s BlueCore3-ROM is currently the only Bluetooth
technology to offer native MP3 support, thanks to its
internal CODEC, software and DSP. MP3 music streams
also offer better audio quality and require lower data
transfer rates than the Sub Band Coding (SBC) format
used by other Bluetooth silicon vendors. In order to
support music streaming and handsfree call handling
from a Bluetooth stereo headset, the handsets support
the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) and
Audio Visual Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), which
16
allows calls and music to be controlled from the
headset. BlueCore Host Software (BCHS) is integrated
into the handset to reduce power consumption of the
Bluetooth device since it implements all of the
Bluetooth lower power modes such as deep sleep,
helping to reduce overall device power consumption.
This allows the user to take full advantage of all
handset features without
draining battery life.
Matthew Phillips, VP Asia
commented, "GSM accounts
for more than 2/3 of the world's
mobile telecommunications
industry and consumers are
increasingly demanding access
to the latest developments in
Matthew Phillips,
VP Asia, CSR’
technology."
The SGH-E750 and SGHE760 are expected to be available on GSM networks
worldwide in Q4 2005.
New products continued
Sony Ericsson unveils UMTS P990
smartphone – with Bluetooth
AND Wi-Fi
Based on experience gained by Incisor whilst
trawling the major wireless events around the
world, the Sony Ericsson P - series – the line
kicking off with the P800 and running through
the P900 and today’s P910 – has been the
phone of choice for the serious smartphone
customer. Heck, your writer has been a
P - series customer for a couple of years. Users,
operators and software developers seem to
appreciate the productivity features, and have
learned to live with the fact that this is no ultrapocketable lightweight.
Operator feedback and download statistics from
the Sony Ericsson Application Shop have shown
that consumers, both business and personal, are
interested in using their smartphones to the fullest
potential. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) can be
as high as 4 to 5 times that of more traditional
voice-centric mobiles.
The line is being updated again, and Sony
Ericsson emphasised its continued commitment to
the Symbian OS with an announcement to the
global development community.
The press statement claims that the P990 will be
the first commercially available smartphone to
adopt the enhanced Symbian OS version 9.1 and
UIQ 3 software platform. This P990 is Bluetooth
and Wi-Fi enabled, has a 2 megapixel camera with
autofocus and features a new hardware keyboard
beneath the flip-down keypad.
To ensure a large proportion of applications are
available on the new Symbian and UIQ software
platform when the P990 goes on sale, Sony
Ericsson has decided to announce the smartphone
well in advance of availability so that developers
have time to create and certify as many
applications as possible.
“The technical prowess of the P990 will be
brought to full life by applications from the third
party developer community,” said Jan Wäreby,
Executive Vice President and Head of Sales and
Marketing. “Demand for applications on the P800,
P900 and P910 has been very high. Our
smartphones have been recognised as the most
advanced and useful on the market, and we want
to maintain this reputation with the P990 by
ensuring there’s a rich supply of top applications
for enterprise, productivity, leisure and gaming
when users make their first visit to the Sony
Ericsson Application Shop.”
As with its predecessors, the P990 is designed to
be first and foremost a great mobile phone. It also
offers all the benefits of UMTS including video
calling, high-bandwidth multi-media downloads
and the ability to browse the Internet with full
HTML pages. These are viewed in landscape on
the new Opera 8 browser. In addition, the P990 is
prepared for all major push e-mail clients enabling
full e-mail access with attachments, anywhere,
anytime.
The P990 will be commercially available in
Q1 2006.
Affordable Bluetooth headset
from Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson has added a new Bluetooth
headset to its portfolio. The HBH-PV700 is
described as a handsfree solution for the
every day user. The new headset offers 5
hours talk time and 150 hours standby time;
good sound quality and an adjustable ear
hook for comfortable, all-day use.
The HBH-PV700 supports all the voice
features of Sony Ericsson’s Bluetooth phones
and is aimed at the ‘affordable’ part of the headset
market. It is capable of voice dialling up to 50
17
contacts, enabling the user to answer and reject
calls by voice control, as well as change the
profile or activate the sound recorder in the
phone. The design features a white and lime
green casing which Sony Ericsson suggests
adds a splash of colour to the headset market.
The HBH-PV700 incorporates the new system
connector Fast port, and it will be available in the
market during Q4.
New products continued
Bar code scanning solution for RIM
BlackBerry devices from Socket
Socket Communications has enabled Research
in Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry 7290 and 7100
series devices to support Socket’s bar code
scanning solutions. The Socket Cordless Hand
Scanner (CHS) Series 7 connects to BlackBerry
devices using Bluetooth, enabling users to scan
bar code data directly into any application on the
device as virtual keystrokes.
“Improving worker productivity and data accuracy
in applications such as field force automation,
inventory management and asset tracking is critical
to organizations today,” said Calvin Nguyen, product
marketing manager for data collection products at
Socket. “The Cordless Hand Scanner and SocketScan
software are ideal for mobile professionals that
require the convenience of cordless connectivity and
accurate wireless data transmission. Our new
SocketScan software release addresses the growing
need for customers who want to use Bluetooth
enabled BlackBerry devices for applications that
utilize bar coded data.”
SocketScan, the keyboard wedge application
shipped with every CHS Series 7 product, reads bar
code data directly into any BlackBerry application
without the need for additional programming. The
software includes Socket’s exclusive patent pending
Error Proof Protocol that allows for real-time
validation of data and notification to the user in case
of error. A beeper in the scanner confirms the
BlackBerry has accurately received the transmission
of data. Additionally, the CHS product line features a
Class 1 Bluetooth radio, enabling users to stay
connected to their desktop, laptop and mobile device
at distances of up to 300 feet.
The Entry Level CHS 7E uses CMOS linear imaging
technology, and scans most popular linear (1D) bar
code symbologies. The Mid-Range 7M and
ruggedized Performance-level 7P models are based
on Class 1 and Class 2 laser engines respectively,
featuring Fuzzy Logic for reading damaged, poorly
printed or hard to read bar code labels and extended
bar code symbologies support, such as RSS-14 and
RSS-Composite.
Socket’s CHS Series 7 products are available
immediately and priced at $398 (CHS 7E), $598 (CHS
7M) and $698 (CHS 7P).
Best seller updated - Jabra BT500
Jabra has released the Jabra BT500, the next
generation of what Jabra claims is the world’s bestselling Bluetooth headset. Continuing with the
Behind-The-Ear (BTE) design, the Jabra BT500
Bluetooth headset has a style update, improved
audio performance and added controls. Added
features include a mute function, a single Bluetooth
pairing button and multi-coloured LEDs.
One of the thinnest BTE headsets in the industry, the
Jabra BT500 weighs 19 grams and is now 20 percent
lighter and 30 percent slimmer than the previous BTE
generation. It has a chrome microphone boom arm that
curves from behind the ear along the jaw line. The
headset offers up to eight hours of talk time and 240
hours of standby time.
In addition to its new design, the BT500 features
architectural improvements that Jabra believes provide a
more stable wireless link between the headset and the
According to Jabra, most Bluetooth headset users prefer the
Behind the Ear design
mobile phone. With improved antenna design, the BT500
also offers increased audio performance and less
interference so conversations are clear and
uninterrupted. The BT500 comes with Jabra MiniGels that
fit comfortably in the ear to ensure superior sound quality.
Overall ease of use has been improved with features
including a one-touch pairing button for simple
connectivity, as well as multi-coloured LEDs that light up
18
to indicate connection and battery charging status. A
mute function lets users temporarily silence the
microphone to speak with someone else or block out a
sudden obtrusive sound. Users also have the option of
charging from an AC adaptor or directly from a PC via a
USB adapter. Either way, the BT500 recharges in just two
hours.
The BT500 supports Bluetooth 1.2 and 1.1 Bluetoothenabled devices including headset and hands-free
profiles and can be paired with up to eight devices, such
as a mobile phone, smart phone or PC so users can
easily switch between devices. With Bluetooth 1.2, the
headset offers additional performance enhancements
such as improved audio quality through decreased
interference and faster connectivity.
The Jabra BT500 is now shipping and will soon be
widely available at retail outlets across Europe, the
Middle East and Africa. RRP: £79.99.
New products continued
Nokia 770 Internet Tablet
now available
Nokia has started deliveries of the first
device in its new Internet Tablet product
category, the Nokia 770. The device is
Nokia's first Linux-based terminal product
and enables Internet browsing and email
communications over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
"We are very excited to start shipments of our
first Nokia Internet Tablet device," said Janne
Jormalainen, Vice President of Convergence
Products, Multimedia, Nokia. "Since announced
back in May we have seen huge interest in this
device, particularly from the Open Source
community."
The 770 is described as pocket sized and
features a high-resolution widescreen display
(4.13") with zoom and on-screen keyboard,
which Nokia says is ideal for viewing online
content. Incisor hasn’t yet had a sample to test
but it should be convenient to carry around, the
dimensions being 141 x 79 x 19 mm and the
weight 230g. Aside from Wi-Fi, the device can
also connect to the Internet utilising Bluetooth
via a compatible mobile device.
The full list of connectivity options includes:
• WLAN: 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth v 1.2
- For Internet connection and file transfer
via phone
- Profiles supported: Dial-up Networking,
File Transfer, Generic Access, SIM Access
and Serial Port profiles
• USB device mode for PC connectivity
• RS-MMC
• 3.5 mm stereo audio out
Internet radio, news reader, file manager and
media players so that your favourite Internet
services can move with you.
The 770 runs on the Nokia Internet Tablet 2005
software edition which is based on desktop
Linux and Open Source technologies. The
maemo web site (www.maemo.org) provides
Open Source developers and innovation houses
with the tools and opportunities to collaborate
with Nokia on future devices and OS releases in
the Internet Tablet category. The Nokia 770
Internet Tablet was recently named Best
Embedded Linux/Mobile Product or Initiative at
the 2005 UK Linux & Open Source Awards.
"This is the first step to creating an Open
Source product for broadband and Internet
services. We will be launching regular software
updates. During the first half of year 2006 we
will launch the next operating system upgrade
to support more presence based functionalities
such as VoIP and Instant Messaging", continued
Janne Jormalainen.
In addition to selected retail outlets, the Nokia
770 Internet Tablet is available for purchase
online at an estimated sales price of
approximately 350 euros including taxes.
The Nokia 770 Internet Tablet also includes a
web browser with flash player, email client,
First Taiwanese laptop with
Bluetooth v2.0+EDR
ASUS is the first Taiwanese manufacturer
to EDR Bluetooth-enable its latest slimline
notebook computer. The ASUS W6A is the
first laptop model in Taiwan to offer the
higher-speed Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), and
is based around CSR’s v2.0+EDR BlueCore4
silicon. ASUS is the third computer
manufacturer after Dell and Apple to adopt
BlueCore4 in order to offer its customers
data transfer rates three times faster than
v1.2 Bluetooth products. The ASUS W6A is
available now worldwide.
The ASUS W6A follows
the industry trend
towards streamlined,
high-performance notebooks
with
highresolution, widescreen
format for optimal DVD
viewing and advanced
Asus notebooks providing
gaming.
EDR connectivity
As well as Bluetooth
transfer rates of up to 3Mbps, CSR's BlueCore4
with Enhanced Data Rate allows more
19
simultaneous Bluetooth connections to be
sustained, thus supporting the use of a
Bluetooth mouse and keyboard while sending a
document to print to a Bluetooth-enabled
printer, listening to music from the PC on
Bluetooth stereo headphones and transferring
photos over a Bluetooth link to another PC or
PDA, with no impact on connection stability or
performance. In addition, power consumption is
drastically reduced, as the Bluetooth radio is
active for one third of the time required to send
the same data by v1.1 or v1.2 Bluetooth.
Bluetooth history lesson
Way back in 2001 Incisor ran a three part
series called ‘Bluetooth – the naming of a
technology’, which was written by an old
friend of Incisor, Jim Kardach. Jim is a
Principal Engineer and platform architect at
Intel and was deeply involved in the genesis
of the technology we know as Bluetooth. Over
some barbecued steaks and tortured guitar
strings at Jim’s place recently we reminisced
over the early days of Bluetooth and re-visited a
discussion that was much debated at the time –
how did Bluetooth get its name?
Various people in the industry have views on this,
but few have committed them to record as Jim did.
So, for the sake of readers of Incisor that have
joined us recently, we will re-publish Jim’s
version over the next three issues.
There are people out there that remember bits
of this differently, but what the heck – Jim’s
story still makes us grin!
Thanks, Jim, for bringing back fond memories.
MG Link, Biz RF, Low Power RF, Bluetooth, Ran
The Naming of a Technology
by Jim Kardach, Intel
Where did the name Bluetooth come from?
How was the technology named? These
questions are asked quite a bit and there are
very simple answers, but sometimes the means
are actually much more interesting than the end,
and in the naming of the Bluetooth technology
this is certainly the case. I’ve been asked to
reflect back and document the story around the
naming of this technology. This story has been
a source of free beers for a number of years, so
if you enjoy this story and meet me sometime in
the future; buy me a beerJ
a second face shows a dragon entangled in
vines (illustrating the conflict between the old
gods and the new Christian religion, Harald was
renowned for Christianizing the Danes), and the
third face shows the "chivalry of Harald" (a
picture of the King himself). As I was to later to
find out, this particular runic stone is considered
WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM?
the "baptism stone" of Denmark as it
The name is borrowed from a 10th century
commemorates the first Danish King (a direct
Danish King, Harald Blätand, or Harald Bluetooth
descendent of the
in English. In Denmark he is
Danish royal family, so
well known because of a
I’m told).
Runic stone he erected in the
Later when I visited
former capital of Denmark,
Jelling to see the actual
Jelling. A runic stone is a
stone, we were told that
Scandinavian monument that
the stone was lost for
was erected to honor some
six hundred years.
occasion or event. This
Evidently Harald had a
particular
runic
stone
small war with his son,
celebrated Harald’s father (the
Sven Forkbeard, over
first king of Denmark) "Gorm
control of the country.
the Old" as well as some of
Sven Mattisson of Ericsson and Jim – if you
Harald
had
just
Harald’s achievements. This like this story, buy us a beer
christianized
the
stone is about 2 meters high,
kingdom (this is around 960 AD), and Sven
and 2 meters wide at its base with upper three
thought they should go back to worshiping the
faces1. One face is covered by text (in runes, the
ancient text for which the stone gets its name),
old gods (Odin, Thor, Frey, …). Sven won this
I’ll try and address this subject in a series of
articles. In the first article I’ll talk about the
origins of the name, and how it became the
SIG’s code-name. In future articles I’ll continue
the story (until I’m told to stop).
™Bluetooth is a trademark of the Bluetooth SIG Inc.
1
Note that this picture is enhanced and flattened to better illustrate the carvings. It is showing two sides of the three upright sides of the rock. The vine separating Harald and the
dragon is a corner of the rock! This picture is from the Jelling tourist pamphlet.
continued
20
argument (exiling his father in the process), and
since this runic stone glorified Harald’s
Christianizing of the Danes, Sven had it buried.
Some six hundred years later a farmer, curious
about a large mound in his farm (Denmark is a
very flat place), rediscovered the stone.
HOW WAS THE TECHNOLOGY NAMED?
I didn’t know any of this back in’97 when
forming a short-range wireless Special Interest
Group (SIG). At this time I was working with
Ericsson and Nokia, who also had short-range
wireless programs, to create a single standard.
Intel called our program "Biz-RF", Ericsson’s
"MC-LINK" and Nokia’s "Low Power RF" (none
of them very awe inspiring names). The first
time I had heard the name "Bluetooth" was after
a meeting in Toronto Canada where Sven
Mattisson of Ericsson and I were presenting a
combined short-range proposal to an existing
industry group in hopes of jump starting our SIG
activities. Even though a combined proposal,
Sven presented the proposal as "MC-LINK", and
I presented the proposal as "Biz-RF" (this was
the first indication we needed a single codename for the technology). After the luke-warm
reception of our proposal, Sven and I decided to
do a comparison of Swedish, American and
Canadian beers as served in Toronto pubs.
While drinking beer, my favorite topic of
discussion is history and I naturally asked Sven
to educate me on Scandinavian history. I
indicated that all I knew about Scandinavia
involved his ancestors running around with bull
horned helmets raiding and destroying places
like England and France.
Sven explained that while he was not an
expert on history (he knew more about radios)
he was pretty confident Vikings never had horns
on their helmets (a stereotype he claims the
Swedes have been trying to break for a long
time2), but that he had read a book called "The
Longships"3, a historical novel about Vikings,
and would relate his country’s history according
to this book. As the night went on (and we
travelled from pub to pub) Sven related to me a
story about a young Swedish lad, Röde Orm
(Red Snake), who went on a "Viking", a word
indicating an expedition for trade, discovery
and/or adventure. This story was set in a time
where King Harald Bluetooth was defending his
kingdom (parts of Norway, Denmark and
Sweden) from his son Sven Tveskäggs (Sven
2
3
4
Forkbeard, around 940AD).
When I arrived back home a book I had
ordered about Scandinavian history was waiting
for me. As I thumbed through this book, "The
Vikings" by Gwyn Jones, I came upon a picture
of a rock which had a person carved on it. The
picture’s caption read "Runic stones from
Jelling in Jutland erected by Gorm the Old and
Harald Bluetooth", and the text of the book
indicated the picture depicted the "Chivalry of
Harald". The runic stone had an inscription
which read "King Harald had this memorial
made for Gorm his father and Thyri his mother:
that Harald who won for himself all Denmark
and Norway, and made the Danes Christian".
I hadn’t really remembered much from
Toronto, but the name Bluetooth came forward
in my memory. It occurred to me the name’s
link to Scandinavian history (a 10th century
Danish King who united Norway and Denmark),
the runic stone with a picture of Harald himself,
and odd word "Bluetooth" could make a pretty
good codename for the project.
I digitized the image of the rock (after
highlighting Harald with a marker) and created a
foil with the main subject: "Bluetooth" and some
bullets stating:
• This is one of two Runic stones erected in
his capitol city of Jelling (central Jutland)
- This is the front of the stone depicting
- the chivalry of Harald.
- The stone’s inscriptions ("runes") say:
- Harald christianized the Danes
- Harald controlled Denmark and
- Norway
- Harald thinks notebooks and cellular
- phones should seamlessly
-communicate.
On Monday I bounced the proposal off
Simon Ellis, who was the marketing
manager for Intel mobile data activities. I
told Simon I would like to change the
name of the program from "Biz-RF" (a
shortcut for Business-RF which we always
shortened to "Bizarre-F") to Bluetooth.
Simon indicated he thought this was a bad
idea (i.e. he made barfing sounds and
pointed down his throat). I then showed
him the picture of the runic stone.
He took the foil out of my hands, studied
it for a few of seconds and then said, "can
you draw a notebook and cell-phone in his
hands?". I quickly updated the picture
and handed it back to Simon who then
remarked: "I like it", but then quickly clarified
that this was a codename and marketing would
pick a proper name prior to public
announcement.
Simon and I have worked together on
different programs for almost 12 years, and
enjoyed bringing a bit of humor into our work.
While the name Bluetooth represented a 10th
century Danish King that brought together the
Danes, Norwegians and Swedes (just as our
program brought together the PC and telecom
industries) the name was funny sounding. It
amused us that at some point an Andy Grove or
Bill Gates would have to say the word
"Bluetooth" in front of an audience with a
serious face.
The next hurdle for getting this codename
approved was to get legal do a trademark
search. I quickly sent an email off to our lawyer
to have a trademark search done on the word
"Bluetooth". I received a quick reply:
Jim,
There is no way you are going to name a
program "Bluetooth", we require that the
codename be a river, lake or city!
I tried a quick bluff, claiming that Bluetooth
was actually the English translation of a German
village and that I wanted the trademark search
done within a week.
Nice try, no dice. Give me the name
of a river.
Next I explained that this was a codename for
a Special Interest Group that involved five other
companies, four of which didn’t have these rules
Further discussions have shown that the Muppet's Swedish Chef is another Stereotype they are trying to break.
"The Longships" by Frans G. Bengtsson. An English version is available from Harper Collins publisher.
Note that at this time Scandia, which is now southern Sweden, was part of Denmark at this time
continued
21
and to please have the search done within a
week.
Assuming the trademark search would go
through clean, we next started the process of
informing the rest of Intel of the change in the
program name; the reaction became one we
would become used to: "your nuts, we can’t
name a program ‘Bluetooth’!". However my
manager allowed us to proceed. He reasoned
that no one in their right mind would allow this
program to be called "Bluetooth", and therefore
the name would be changed prior to any public
announcement (or so he thought).
A week later I finally received the crucial
email from legal:
Surprise, surprise, nobody has trademarked
"Bluetooth"
I was not surprised.
In December of ’97 all of the major players of
the "to be formed" SIG met for the first time in a
face-to-face meeting in Lund Sweden. Simon
and I had discussed how we would get the other
members to agree upon a SIG name (it’s always
the simple things that are the most difficult), and
we finally agreed to just send out a foil-set that
outlined the initial goals and programs of the
"Bluetooth SIG" (just prior to leaving for the
meeting). We created a foil-set template that
put the "altered runic stone" on every foil.
At the meeting in Lund we started through our
initial presentation and were immediately
asked, "What is this Bluetooth?". We explained,
"every company was using a different
codename, and as a SIG we needed a single
codename to help identify our united efforts. We
picked a codename that would be difficult to
identify with short range wireless technology,
and at the same time signified the uniting of the
computer and telecommunications industries as
Harald had united the Danes and Swedes."
There was complete silence.
"And, this is only a code name until the
marketing group comes up with an ‘official’
name for the SIG."
There was a sudden burst of conversation as
the different groups started talking about what
the "real name" of the SIG should be. I glanced
over at Simon, who was also looking at me and
grinning. We both knew that the SIG would
move forward with the code-name "Bluetooth".
To Be Continued …
Snippets
Snippets
BLUETOOTH
Logitech to produce a barcode pen by
next year
In April 2006 Logitech will replace its
current Digital Pens with Bluetooth with a
new version which will be USB, Bluetooth,
Barcode and Streaming compatible. The change
will only affect the firmware. The pen will keep
its current design. The official release date
should be around April 2006 and Logitech is
exploring the opportunity to run an early
program as early as Feb for key partners. The
pen bringing the barcode functionality will be
Logitech’s BT pen with the code name
Shakespeare 1.1.
Board shuffle at Anoto Group
Digital pen and paper company Anoto has
realigned its board of directors. Christer
Fåhreaus, Per Boasson, Kjell Duveblad, David
Henry, Lars Jarnryd, Märtha Josefsson, Stein
Revelsby and Nils Rydbäck are elected as
members of the new Board. Örjan Johansson
has left the Board, as he is now CEO. In
accordance with the Board's proposal, a new
stock option program and a warrant program
were adopted for Anoto employees. A stock
option program for Anoto's employees in the
United States was also adopted. Finally, the
Board's authorisation to issue up to
10,000,000 new shares to enable
acquisitions of businesses and operations
was extended to include expansion and
initiatives in other areas.
CSR offers Bluetooth to Grundig
mobile portfolio
CSR’s BlueCore3-ROM silicon has been
selected by Grundig mobile to Bluetoothenable one of the company's first mobile
handsets. The G402i, offering multimedia
functionality including video messaging,
downloads and integrated digital camera, has
already been deployed in Spain with Telefónica
Móviles and will be more widely available in the
next few months. Grundig stated that the
inclusion of CSR's BlueCore3-ROM silicon
allows Grundig mobile to offer market-leading
Bluetooth connectivity easily and for minimal bill
of materials (BOM) and design requirements.
Grundig mobile was created following a
licensing agreement between Vitelcom Mobile
Technology SA and Grundig Multimedia BV.
now to 31% in 2007, driven by the growing
availability of wireless VoIP handsets and voiceenabling wireless infrastructure. The study, User
Plans for Wireless LANs: North America 2005, is
based on in-depth interviews with 240 small,
medium, and large organizations using
WLANs by 2006, including analysis of 5
vertical markets, as well as surveys of 450
organizations for WLAN adoption rates.
WI-FI
Voice over Wireless LAN triples by 2007
According to a new study by Infonetics
Research, the number of organizations
deploying voice over wireless LANs (WLAN)
will triple over the next two years, from 10%
22
Wireless industry intelligence - UWB/W-USB
Staccato Communications
strengthens position in Japan
One of the leading companies in the UltraWideband (UWB) and Wireless USB space Staccato Communications - has named Bob
Sato as Japan Country Manager and has
opened the company’s first international
office in Japan. The new office, which is
located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo will serve as a
base for operations, sales and marketing and
customer support in Japan for Staccato’s
Ripcord family of products.
Staccato's Ripcord products are single-chip,
all-CMOS products fully integrated into
complete Systems-in-Package (SiP) to enable
sub-$10 cost per node, small form factor, low
and efficient power consumption, and 480Mbps
Certified Wireless USB connectivity. Staccato SiP
products are fully integrated solutions that
integrate the radio frequency transceiver,
baseband, MAC, processor, memory, and I/O
functionality and are based on the WiMedia
Alliance common radio platform.
Bearing in mind the way the UWB and W-USB
market is developing, and the continuing
strength of Japanese consumer electronics
companies, Staccato’s establishment of a
foothold in this territory has to be seen as a
strategically very important move. “The rapid
adoption of Certified Wireless USB by the
Japanese OEMs has been further accelerated by
the recent UWB regulatory approval by the
Japanese government,” said Rick Kornfeld,
President and CEO of Staccato Communications.
”We’re pleased to have Bob Sato join us and
contribute to our expansion plans in Japan and
what we believe will be explosive growth for the
industry and for Staccato over the coming
months and years.”
Staccato seems to have found a highly
experienced individual to run its Japanese
operation. Bob Sato brings more than 18 years
of wireless industry experience to Staccato,
having held key sales and marketing positions
at Marvell, CSR, VLSI Technology, Philips
Semiconductors and Motorola. Mr. Sato is a third
generation Japanese-American born in the U.S.
and raised in Japan with a strong international
business background and extensive fabless
semiconductor experience. Prior to joining
Staccato, he was Senior Sales Manager for the
Communications and Consumer Business Group
at Marvell, responsible for driving the embedded
Wireless LAN business in Japan. At CSR, Mr.
Sato was the Regional Sales Manager in Japan
credited with securing key design wins at major
cellular handset and consumer OEM/ODM
accounts, contributing to CSR’s leadership
position in the Bluetooth market. Prior to CSR, he
was Marketing Manager at VLSI Technology.
Following Philips Semiconductors’ acquisition of
VLSI Technology, Mr. Sato continued in this role
and was responsible for driving the cellular
baseband and Set Top Box business in Japan.
Early in his career, he spearheaded the mobile
data systems sales and product planning effort
for Motorola in Japan. Bob Sato earned his
Bachelor of Science degree in Mass
Communications from Illinois State University.
Focus Enhancements introduces
UWB eval kit, reaches
for UWB sky …
Focus Enhancement has launched the
Talaria Ultra Wideband (UWB) Evaluation
System for computer, mobile communications and consumer electronics
companies designing next generation
wireless audio/video products. The company
is currently taking orders for evaluation kits,
which are expected to be available around
the end of 2005, and which will include all
elements needed to test UWB radio
performance in typical home and office user
environments.
Headquartered in Campbell, CA, Focus
designs, develops, and markets video solutions
in two distinct markets: advanced proprietary
video conversion integrated circuits (ICs) and
high quality, digital-video conversion and video
production equipment
Focus’ radios are compatible with the WiMedia
standard, though Focus claims to exceed the
standard’s overall performance. Talaria is
expected to provide transmission rates up to
880 Mbps at ranges up to 8 meters and 37
Mbps at a range of 40 meters. Focus says that
both specifications exceed existing published
competitive capabilities.
The company’s UWB Evaluation System enables
manufacturers to validate the performance of
Focus’ UWB radio modules in real-world
environments. Users can direct video or data
using the Web-based interface from a selection of
sources to the Focus UWB radio for wireless
transmission. The Evaluation System contains two
PCI slots, which house a mini-PCI Talaria UWB
radio module and a Focus Gemini MPEG decoder
card. The integrated Gemini MPEG decoder card
enables testers to render a compressed media
stream in either standard definition (SD) or high
definition (HD) video formats. Video outputs
include IEEE-1394, component video, composite
video, VGA and DVI. Audio outputs include 2channel audio-out and S-PDIF.
continued
23
Wireless industry intelligence - UWB/W-USB continued
“For UWB to become a viable technology in
commercial markets, it must prove that it can
work in a variety of commonly encountered
environments,” said Brett Moyer, Focus
Enhancements’ president and chief executive
officer. “Our UWB Evaluation System will enable
manufacturers to test and confirm that Talaria
works in a wide range of physical environments
and will demonstrate to developers and product
managers real world delivery capabilities that
outperform anything currently on the market or
in development labs we have visited.”
Focus has been making high claims for the
performance of its UWB products since CES in
January 2005 (see Incisor’s UWB review in issue
78/Feb ’05). Not that we are a bunch of cynics
here at Incisor, but it can be noted that in the
wording of this latest press release that Focus
still only says that it ‘expects to provide
transmission rates up to 880Mbps’. Focus is not
alone in aiming for the close-to 1Gbps target,
but Incisor isn’t aware that this has yet been hit,
Pulse~LINK probably being the closest to having
a market solution.
As ever, those cautionary words apply – caveat
emptor.
Freescale first to demo
Bluetooth/UWB combo?
As the tumbleweed blew down the empty
aisles at Wireless Connectivity Americas in
Santa Clara during the first week of October,
one company did have an interesting demo
to show. Freescale Semiconductor was there
with a Bluetooth/Ultra-Wideband demo.
Freescale claimed this to be the industry’s first
demonstration of high data rate Ultra-Wideband
(UWB) silicon operating under existing Bluetooth
software stacks. Incisor uses the word ‘claimed’
cautiously, but we believe that Freescale’s
statement is probably correct, at least in public
display rather than a lab somewhere. We stand
ready to be corrected if there are readers out
there who know different.
The demonstration involved Freescale partners
Open Interface and Frontline Test Equipment,
and streamed UWB signals using Bluetooth
protocols and tracked the protocols via an
analyzer.
The demonstration featured two laptops, each
enabled with a UWB module and Bluetooth
dongle. Attendees first saw a pure Bluetooth-toBluetooth demonstration with a file transfer
between laptops. While easy to do, it operated at
a maximum rate of 1 Mbps and took several
minutes (Ed. – does Freescale know about EDR
Bluetooth? It’s a bit faster than this although still
not UWB fast). Next, the UWB radios used Open
Interface’s BLUETusk software to leverage the
software stack of Bluetooth while operating the
Freescale UWB radio. Achieving up to 110 Mbps,
the file transfer happened much quicker almost instantaneously according to Freescale with Freescale’s XS110 DS-UWB radio operating
under the Bluetooth software stacks.
Freescale said that the combined functionality
allows direct sequence-UWB (DS-UWB) to meet
the higher-speed demands of streaming high
quality video applications and usage scenarios
where large data files must be transferred
instantly. It also takes advantage of the strong
ecosystem created by the 250 million
consumers that use Bluetooth wireless
technology in a variety of mobile applications
today.
“In May of this year, Freescale committed to
marrying our commercial UWB silicon solutions
Freescale’s Martin Rofheart showed Bluetooth/UWB combo
to the Bluetooth protocols to enable a high rate
path for Bluetooth users,” said Martin Rofheart,
director of the Ultra-Wideband Operation at
Freescale. “This demonstration is the first step
toward combining the strengths of Bluetooth
and UWB and provides a proven design
reference for our early adopter customers. We
are on track with our technology development
milestones for Bluetooth and UWB and remain
committed to providing an integrated silicon
solution.”
Snippets
Snippets
WI-FI
Intel’s next-gen Wi-Fi supports Cisco
Compatible Extensions
Intel will support the latest version of Cisco
Compatible Extensions in Intel’s nextgeneration Wi-Fi solution. Intel is apparently
the first vendor to achieve Cisco Compatible
Extensions 4.0 certification, with the Intel
PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection.
The Cisco Compatible Extensions program sets
criteria so that client devices can be designed to
24
be interoperable with a Cisco WLAN
infrastructure and optimizes Cisco
innovations for enhanced security, mobility,
quality of service, and network management.
Wireless industry intelligence - ZigBee
Chipcon updates RadioDesk with laser tech
Oslo, Norway-based Chipcon has released it’s
RadioDesk laser mouse reference design. This
updates the previously released RadioDesk
reference design, utilizing a new laser navigation
sensor. RadioDesk is Chipcon’s platform for
wireless human interface devices (HIDs). It consists
of the advanced RadioDesk adaptive frequency
hopping RF protocol as well as wireless keyboard
and mouse reference designs.
The laser sensor comes from Agilent Technologies
and offers improved mouse tracking performance as
well as improved battery lifetime. The laser mouse can
be used on virtually any surface with improved
resolution compared to conventional optical solutions,
while the battery life of the mouse is extended to almost
six months (two AA alkaline cells).
According to Chipcon’s Product Marketing Director for
Consumer Electronics Karl H. Torvmark, since the
release of the first Chipcon RadioDesk reference design
in April this year, customer response has been
enthusiastic. ‘We have been in contact with the biggest
players in the wireless keyboard/mouse market. The
time has come for widespread adoption of advanced
2.4 GHz solutions in the HID market place.’
Chipcon states that the RadioDesk RF protocol has
been designed from the ground up to address the most
important end user concerns facing wireless HID
developers: robustness, coexistence with WLAN,
Bluetooth and other 2.4 GHz devices, long battery
lifetime and low latency. The RadioDesk protocol is
based on adaptive frequency hopping. The typical range
of Chipcon’s platform is 10-15 meters, which is further
than possible with older 27 MHz solutions. Incisor does
wonder how many people will want to sit 45 feet from
their computer, but there are bound to be some.
According to Chipcon, the two-way RadioDesk
solution is also the only low-cost wireless solution on
the market to allow wake-up of the PC from suspend
mode using a wireless keyboard or mouse. This is
achieved by using the CC2500 radio’s unique Wake-OnRadio feature to keep the power consumption under the
500 ÌA USB suspend limit.
The wireless laser mouse reference design kit
includes a sample cordless laser mouse and all
schematics, PCB layout and firmware source code.
Ember ships EmberZNet 2.0 ZigBee software
ZigBee specialist Ember is describing its
EmberZNet product as a second-generation ZigBee
protocol stack (as well as being Ember’s fifthgeneration mesh networking stack) designed for
self-organizing, self-healing wireless networks
using a variety of network topologies, including
mesh, star, and cluster tree.
Ember says that its software provides all the
standards-based benefits inherent in the ZigBee
specification, including high reliability, high security,
broad interoperability, low cost, long battery life, and
integrated network management. But Ember is pushing
the envelope and going beyond these standard
benefits. EmberZNet 2.0 apparently extends ZigBee
functionality, simplicity and performance. For example,
it supports application profiles for home controls as
well as user-defined network applications and also
features an Ember transport layer to provide more
reliable wireless communications between nodes and
enable distributed bindings. Ember’s existing
customers can port their EmberNet applications to the
new ZigBee platform.
“The biggest challenge of deploying wireless sensing
and control devices has been installing the network to
connect them,” said Skip Ashton, Ember’s vice
president of engineering. “EmberZNet was designed
from the ground up to remove this barrier, shielding
developers from the complexities of the networking
layer.”
EmberZNet 2.0 is available immediately for multiple
third-party microcontroller platforms, such as those
from Atmel and Texas Instruments. It is bundled with
Ember’s EM250 ZigBee system-on-a-chip and EM260
ZigBee network processor.
Atalum releases ZigBee Starter Kit
Spanish company Atalum Wireless has
announced the launch of ZigBee starter kits that it
says give OEMs and ICs all the necessary tools to
quickly set-up ZigBee networks and monitor their
performance, as well as providing an easy to use
API to develop applications.
Customers receive a solution that includes five of
Atalum’s GREENmesh modules (hardware devices) and
NDT (Network Definition Tool) for network and device
set-up, as well as a development suite for editing and
programming plus a choice of network analyzer tools
(from Frontline or Daintree Networks). An API is also
25
included to enable programming of additional
applications.
‘Companies can see first-hand how to profit from
wireless sensor networks when they test the Atalum
experience and see how we stack up’ said Atalum’s
Sandra Wear.
Wireless industry intelligence - ZigBee continued
Freescale aims 8-bit at costsensitive apps such as ZigBee
Freescale Semiconductor has a new range
of 8-bit microcontrollers designed to provide
flexibility and value at the industry’s
most competitive price points. This is the
S08QG
family,
which,
with
the
MC9S08QG8/QG4 combined with HC08based microcontrollers, offer a wide variety
of functionality at suggested resale price
points below $1 (USD).
Freescale says that with the emergence of
wireless applications for handheld devices and
sensors and supporting standards like the
ZigBee protocol, the HCS08’s power
management modes and low-power modules
extend battery life in wireless systems, while
still meeting high performance demands.
According to Freescale, application designers
increasingly face the complex task of making
functionality trade offs for cost and pin count.
The S08QG family is intended to enable the
designer to better control these tradeoffs, giving
them the flexibility to create better products and
new applications at reduced cost.
“Today’s designers are captive to limited
functionality on low cost devices,” said Mike
McCourt, Microcontroller Division manager for
Freescale. “The S08QG family offers a scalable
continuum of functionality, integration and
innovation at a very competitive suggested
resale price, further extending the value for
8-bit microcontrollers into applications for
appliances, industrial and lighting control,
security systems and wireless communications.”
We were told that the S08QG family provides
flexible packaging options with a high level of
on-chip integration – including fast, accurate
and low-power analog peripherals, multiple
communication options and flexible timers
suited for motion control.
NESA deploys Freescale ZigBee
for wireless Automated Meter
Reading system
NESA, a leading Danish Electricity
company, will deploy what is believed to be
the first ZigBee-enabled system for
Automated Meter Reading (AMR) in Europe.
The system uses Freescale‘s ZigBeecompliant platform along with system
design by alliance partner Develco. NESA is
the largest distribution utility in Denmark
serving 555,000 customers around
Copenhagen.
The AMR system provides utility companies
the ability to wirelessly monitor electricity
usage. Additionally, consumers will have the
capability to monitor and control home
appliances and receive home intruder alerts
remotely through short messaging system
(SMS).
“Freescale’s market knowledge along with the
expertise of their partner Develco, who charged
the implementation of ZigBee technology in the
system, gave us the confidence in selecting
their platform as our foundation,” said Willy
Bergstrom,
project
manager,
NESA.
“Interoperability with the ZigBee standard
enables new possibilities for our subscribers
and allows our system to be the perfect gateway
for home automation.”
As other manufacturers deploy the ZigBee
standard, the NESA system will expand its level
of service to include additional features such as
allowing customers to access and control the
temperature of their home and receive security
alerts while they are miles away, or even in
another country.
The NESA wireless utility system consists of
the following features:
• Electricity meter, GSM/GPRS communication
capabilities and an embedding ZigBeeenabled modem
• 230V AC switch/dimmer with ZigBee modem
• Infra-red battery-powered detector,
embedding ZigBee-enabled modem
26
NESA expects to deploy the automated meter
system to all its customers in Q4 of 2005 in
Denmark, followed by further adoptions in the
Nordic region expanding through Europe.
Wireless industry intelligence - RFID
Allixon and LIT take RFID to
Korea and beyond
Allixon Corporation, a leading provider of
RFID middleware and mobile Internet
solutions for device computing, has signed
an Educational-Industrial cooperation
agreement with Logistics Information
Technology to further enhance RFID
business in the Korean and global RFID
markets. LIT is the Korean national project
for developing the next generation of
logistics information technology and is a
joint initiative of Pusan National University,
Dong-A University and Pukyong National
University. It is funded by the Korean
Ministry of Education and Human Resources
Development. LIT is currently in partnership
with more than 15 corporations and
government agencies.
One of four major research topics, Future
Distributed Computing Technologies for
Logistics will see Allixon involved in the
development of smart RFID middleware to
support passive tags and active tags together.
Allixon will focus on developing four basic
technologies as follows: a technique for location
tracking of logistics using GPS/RFID,
middleware technology for the control and
management of readers for next-generation
logistic tags, distributed platform structures and
middleware technologies for logistics
information network, and semantic-based
integrated management of logistics resources
and adaptive authentication software
technologies.
LIT, in conjunction with SUN Microsystems’
RFID Test Centre at Pusan National University,
has been established to support companies
working on RFID applications. The SUN
Microsystems RFID Test Centre is based on an
RFID Test Center in Dallas, but modified to suit
the Korean environment. Allixon will also be
involved with this SUN Microsystems RFID Test
Centre, using it as a test bed for the many
companies which want to provide RFID bolt-ons.
Wireless industry intelligence - WiMAX
Aperto introduces self-install WiMAX
Indoor, self-install WiMAX broadband
wireless products for consumers will be
available from Aperto Networks in the first
quarter of 2006.
Aperto says that it’s WiMAX customer premise
equipment (CPE) is intuitive and simple-toinstall and features the latest advancements in
chip, radio, and antenna technologies. The
products are claimed to make it easier for
consumers to gain broadband wireless access
to a wide range of services, such as video, data
and voice, including VOIP. Aperto is pretty
confident that it is making a difference,
suggesting that consumers will now have the
choice of wireless broadband as a viable,
affordable alternative to DSL or cable.
“The introduction of Aperto Networks’ indoor,
self-install consumer CPE products is an
important milestone for Aperto Networks and
underscores our commitment to our customers
to be the first to market with the most proven,
technically advanced WiMAX products,” said
Manish Gupta, vice president of marketing and
alliances.
The IEEE 802.16-2004 standards-compliant
products will be marketed as the PM500 series
product line, within Aperto Networks’
PacketMAX product family. In addition to a
selection of indoor and outdoor subscriber
equipment, the family includes carrier grade
modular, stackable, and micro base stations and
a comprehensive element management system.
Aperto’s PacketMAX products are currently
undergoing interoperability and conformance
testing. Aperto predicts that they will be among
the first products to be declared WiMAX Forum
Certified before the end of 2005.
Snippets
Snippets
RFID
Cogent awarded contract for Canadian
National AFIS
ACG Identification Technologies, a
component and technology supplier in the
smart card and RFID markets, and Arcontia, a
contactless smart card reader supplier in
RFID markets have announced that their
customized passport readers were chosen by
Setec and the Swedish Police Department for
use within the country’s nationwide electronic
passport project. In total, 320 units were
installed in local police stations across the
27
country to be used by citizens when collecting
their newly issued electronic passports.
Arcontia modified the reader modules to meet
the requests of the Swedish Police, including
customizing the housing to fit both electronic
passports and national biometric ID cards.
Connection Section
Since its launch in 1998 Incisor has consolidated its
position as the only magazine 100% dedicated to
the short range wireless industry. Every issue of the
magazine is read by members of the wireless
industrycommunity at thousands of companies
around the world. This section of Incisor is designed
to put people together, including:-
• companies recruiting for staff
• individuals looking for new jobs in the
wireless industry
• companies seeking representation
• manufacturers representatives seeking
new clients
• companies, agencies or individuals
offering products and services
There is no better place to advertise jobs,
products or services. To place situations vacant or
classified advertising in this section of Incisor,
email [email protected], or
telephone +44 (0)1730 891330.
28
Connection Section
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29
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Connection Section
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30
Connection Section
Staccato is hiring a number of positions
key to our continued growth.
Vice President of Operations
Director of Finance
Director, Software Engineering
Software Applications Engineer
Applications Engineering Manager
Analog IC Design Engineer
Test Development Engineer-IC
Marconi wasn’t just an innovator . . .
www.staccatocommunications.com/careers/
. . . he was also an enthusiastic entrepreneur.
It was over a century ago that Marconi replaced wired with wireless, founded The Wireless
Telegraph and Signal Company Limited, and changed the world.
is tested and proven. And our success means our customers will benefit from the best performance at the
lowest cost, in the smallest form factor.
One hundred years later Staccato Communications is repeating history, in the emerging UWB
and Wireless USB industries.
Important technology challenges are ahead, and demanding business challenges as well. We’re looking
for folks who enjoy the challenges of fast growth. People who understand serving others is the most
effective way of leading them.
For instance, we knew the only way the full promise of UWB technology could be delivered to
our customers and theirs was if we designed an all-CMOS single chip radio.
The skeptics, including some of our competitors, said this was an impossible task, but the chip
Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about these positions, about Staccato’s service to
the industry, and about the immense satisfaction of combing great innovation with smart business.
www.staccatocommunications.com
Management Recruiters of
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A Top 5 Silicon Valley recruiting firm, Management Recruiters of San Jose-Metro
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• CMOS-VLSI architect
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• R&D engineer
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• Manager, director or vice
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• Sales engineer
To learn more about our services or to submit your qualifications, please contact:
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31
Connection Section
BRIDGES for GROWTH IN COOPERATION
Centro de Tecnología de las Comunicaciones S.A. (CETECOM Spain) is a leading company in testing solutions
for the wireless and cellular industries. CETECOM develops test solutions for Bluetooth, 2G/3G, RFID, WiMAX
and other wireless technologies and provides testing and consultancy services for compliance with international
standards. CETECOM is looking for dedicated engineers willing to take the challenges of wireless communications
testing and join our development and compliance teams. Currently, there are several positions:
Test Systems Development Engineer (GSM, WCDMA, WiMAX, internal tools) (Ref 3)
Job description:
The Systems Group is responsible for design, implementation and maintenance of Measurement Systems for wireless
technologies developed in Cetecom. That Measurement Systems integrates equipments from other manufacturers, as
well as equipment developed in Cetecom, so the work is done in close collaboration with other Cetecom’s development
groups. As a system development engineer you will analyse, design, develop and verify test cases following a certain
standard, for different wireless technologies as WCDMA, GSM, WiMAX, etc. The work will involve a good knowledge
of RF measurements and instrumentation functionalities. Part of the development will be performed in a lab environment,
so experience of lab work and different instruments are thus essential. Experience of C programming (preferable
Labwindows CVI) is required.
Competence
Qualification (formal education needed): MSc in
Telecommunications or Electronic Engineering or equivalent
prefered
Minimum required:
· Experience in RF measurements and related instrumentation
· Experience in Wireless Technologies (WCDMA, WIMAX, GSM)
· English spoken
It would be an asset:
· Experience in C programming, preferable
Labwindows CVI
· Used to analytical work
· Able to read and understand Spanish
· Ability to work independently and in teams
· Well organized and structured
Other CETECOM job vacancies are:
- DSP/L1 and/or Protocols Development Engineer (GSM
& WCDMA) (Ref 1)
- Testing engineer for the WiMAX and GSM/GPRS/UMTS
laboratories (Ref 2)
Competence and minimum required for these jobs published
in INCISOR number 85 and 86.
Interested, please send CV to
[email protected] (indicate Ref.)
www.cetecom.es
32
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Wireless industry calendar of events
DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
NOTES
LINK
Dec 6 - 7 2005
WiMAX – The beginning
of a new era
Crowne Plaza,
Vienna
-
www.telecoms.com/wimax
Jan 5-8 2006
2006 International Consumer
Electronics Show (CES)
Las Vegas,
Nevada, USA
-
www.cesweb.org
Jan 5-8 2006
Pure Wireless
Twilight Room,
Flamingo Hotel and
Casino, Las Vegas,
Nevada
Incisor showcase for the very latest
wireless applications
Web: www.pure-wireless.com
Email: [email protected]
Further wireless industry events will be added to the calendar as soon as they are announced. See notes below regarding editorial submissions.
SHOWCASE
Free to attend exhibition of tomorrow’s wireless applications – Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi, RFID, NFC, ZigBee.
Your opportunity to meet with the people that drive the wireless industry.
Bluetooth SIG hosts cocktail reception Thursday 5th January
5th – 8th January 2006, Twilight Room, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
www.pure-wireless.com
Subscribe free of charge to Incisor, and access other products
and services from Click I.T. Ltd at
TM
PRODUCED/DISTRIBUTED BY:
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The Incisor is produced as an independent
publication by Click I.T. Ltd. Views expressed
within are those of the Incisor editoral and
management representatives.
This newsletter is distributed on a monthly
basis to companies and individuals with an
interest in Bluetooth, WLAN, ZigBee, UWB,
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Sponsorship, advertising and e-marketing enquiries should be directed to Vince Holton (see below)
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CONTACT DETAILS:
Please send all editorial material to Vince Holton
Individuals are invited to express their views
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Publisher/Editor-in-chief: Vince Holton · [email protected] · Telephone: +44 (0)1730 895614
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34
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