Signature - Q1, 2008 - (Page 3) Connect | Photography by Tom Salt | Q1 ’08 Experience More You’ll find the number 10 scattered throughout this issue of SIGnature, and that’s appropriate: This year is the 10th anniversary of Bluetooth technology. What might surprise you is how often that number pops up, and it’s one reason we’re celebrating not just an anniversary but a decade of exponential growth as the world’s premier short-range wireless technology. We frequently mark Bluetooth SIG milestones in factors of 10. By 2006 our members were shipping 10 million Bluetooth enabled devices each week. That same year, the total number of devices shipped reached 1 billion. Last year we predicted member companies will be shipping 2 billion devices in a single year by 2010, and it looks as though we are on track to meet that goal. In December we also passed another major milestone: The Bluetooth SIG now includes more than 10,000 member companies. But there’s more to that magic number 10 than marketing and membership statistics. The tools we offer members and the technology we offer consumers enable exponential improvement in processes, data transfer and more. For example, under the Qualification Program Reference Document 2.0 that went into effect one year ago, members can qualify product profiles much faster – an Associate member told us the process they expected would take 10 hours now takes 10 minutes. Consumers will find exponentially better data transfer with the advent of high speed Bluetooth technology, which aims to raise the current 3Mbps transfer rate by a factor of 10 at 10 meters. We’re liking the number 10 a lot, and we think you will, too. Please join us at our annual All Hands Meeting beginning 31 March in Phoenix, Ariz., where our theme will be “Reaching New Heights: The Power of 10.” You can read more about the All Hands Meeting on page 6. We think you’ll also enjoy taking a peek at the near future. “Bluetooth Technology In Motion” (page 14) illustrates a typical day in the Bluetooth enabled life to come. In “Bluetooth Technology @ Retail” (page 18) we showcase a smartphone payment solution, while in outer space, Bluetooth technology is helping NASA monitor astronaut health – check out “Bluetooth Wireless Explorer” on page 19. Our “Bluetooth Technology Interactive” feature on page 20 examines innovative use cases of push marketing. You’ll find much more in this issue about the past, present and future of Bluetooth technology. Congratulations to all our members on a great first decade. Here’s to the next 10 years! We’re Exponential As we celebrate 10 years since Bluetooth technology began, members of the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. can be justly proud. You’re leading growth and development of the world’s No. 1 short-range wireless technology. Mike Foley Executive Director Bluetooth Special Interest Group Bluetooth Special Interest Group | 3
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