Opinions Vary on Bluetooth vs. 802.11
Phillip Redman, a technology analyst for the Gartner Group, said that neither 802.11 nor Bluetooth is likely to win out as a single wireless standard. Bluetooth will be used to create connections between devices while 802.11 is a more robust networking method.
However, he said that 802.11 is more expensive than Bluetooth and uses more power, which will limit its inclusion in many mobile devices.
On the other hand, Sean Maloney, general manager of the Intel Communications Group, said earlier this week, "802.11 has won. Bluetooth is in full retreat from Moscow at the moment. It may end up winning but right now it isn't...Bluetooth will survive but it will be a much more niche product than expected."
Until now, Intel has been a major advocate of Bluetooth and is an important member of the Bluetooth SIG, the trade group for the technology. It is not yet clear if Intel is changing its plans on Bluetooth products. Xircom, an Intel subsidiary, has announced it is releasing a Bluetooth clip-on module that uses Palm's Universal Connector and a Bluetooth Springboard module in the next few months. They also make an 802.11 Springboard.
Palm has thrown its weight heavily behind Bluetooth. It is also an important member of the Bluetooth SIG and has promised a Bluetooth SD card by the end of this year and that next year it will release handhelds with built-in Bluetooth.
Sony has also shown support for Bluetooth. They are expected to release the Infostick, a Memory Stick with Bluetooth capabilities, sometime this year.
There has also been strong third-party support for Bluetooth. Several companies have announced clip-on modules for the Palm V series and others are making printers and network access ports.
At this time, Xircom appears to be the only company that has announced any products designed specifically to give PalmOS handhelds 802.11 access. But 802.11 has already begun to be adopted as a method to wirelessly connect laptops and there are a large number of products to support this. Companies have even begun to install 802.11 networks in major airports.
About Bluetooth
Bluetooth is the name of a short-range radio frequency (RF) technology that replaces cables. Bluetooth allows computers, peripherals, and other devices to communicate with each other without having a physical connection, or direct line-of-sight with each other, and without needing extra communication protocols. Bluetooth technology operates at 2.4 GHz and is capable of transmitting voice and data. The effective range of Bluetooth devices is 32 feet (10 meters). Bluetooth transfers data at the rate of 1 Mbps, which is from three to eight times the average speed of parallel and serial ports, respectively. Bluetooth technology allows users to create a PAN (Personal Area Network) in which they can synchronize data with handhelds and PCs, and access data and E-mail on handhelds remotely with the use of a Bluetooth enabled cellular phone.
About 802.11b
802.11b Wireless LAN, also known as Wireless Ethernet, is a radio frequency (RF) network access technology. It allows users to access information wirelessly throughout a home, business or campus location. The technology is most often used to expand the coverage of a wired LAN, but, it can also be used to replace wired networks. The technology can require the installation of access points (radio transceivers) to provide wireless coverage across a local area. Wireless LAN can also exist in a Peer-to-Peer setting, between devices that have WLAN access modules. The 802.11b standard ensures interoperability among WLAN networks by implementing regulations for WLAN product manufacturers. Businesses, schools, and other institutions often find it beneficial to standardize equipment so that they can combine hardware from different vendors. Home users who purchase 802.11b compliant products are assured that they will work with products produced by various manufacturers.
Related Information:
- Cnet: Commentary: A race with two winners
- Cnet: Bluetooth has lost, says Intel executive
- PIC: Palm Not Brushing Off Bluetooth
- PIC: Palm Unveils Bluetooth SD Card
- PIC: Sony Developing Bluetooth Memory Stick
- PIC: Xircom Releases Info on 802.11b and Bluetooth Modules
- PIC: Xircom 802.11b Springport Mini-Review
- PIC: Wireless Forum
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RE: Finally someone who got it
Technically speaking.
But.
Nobody got anything. Or do you see something?
Except for the Apple Macintosh user which work happily since many years with the ultrarobust Airport system – stands for 802.11b. 128 bit encrypted.
The PDA User is still crippled with IR.
That 802.11b sucks more energy is not true as such – there are different specifications for 802.11b – several of them quite energy saving.
Just the mainstream, as always as when there to much fat cooks involved, did not get it.
And therefore we, the Palm user will get very late a basically unfit, snarrowband and unpractical system for WAN / LAN networking – the bluetooth.
What is good for a camera to monitor or phone to headset or fridge to toaster connection is not the proper tool for what palm users really need.
Similar as the Dragonball processors used in the Palm today – which where used in the first Macintoshes - gets for about US$ 8.- over the table in masses – BT is cheap.
As well as the still non existing (ok - in ****eopaitc doses seen) BT chip is cheap - in any aspect (especially in the security side) – The price is the real 500 pound gorilla in the fight.
Therefore: I bet my pant, Palm will get it wrong by supporting bluetooth!
RE: Finally someone who got it
Sorry but, I can't understand your post nor your point.
RE: Finally someone who got it
Its a question of horses for courses.. Of course I am sure how much of a handicap the "narrow" bandwidth of bluetooth will be... as I recall it runs ay 1.1 mbi.. twice the speed of my adsl line... so you won't find me whingeing about it....
RE: Finally someone who got it
RE: Finally someone who got it
The problem is that no one product can squeeze both Direct Sequence one and Frequency Hopping one into the the product while keeping price low, in fact, I don't know any company is doing that.
Besides, the Frequnecy Hopping one is still more expensive and power hungry than Bluetooth since they are targeted at different applications!
This is what you get -- Higher performance but power consuming and expensive, or cheaper price but lower performance! No free lunch!
More development should be interesting
RE: More development should be interesting
Forget them both...
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/08/30/ultrafast.wireless.idg/index.html
UWB sounds like the best of all possible worlds. Hope it gets approved. Has anyone else heard about this?
RE: Forget them both...
The thing is that wireless tech evolves very slowly, never trust any new things, there is no breakthrough in wireless. Wireless need lots of hard work, not crazy new ideas.
ps. Back to three years ago, people also excited about Bluetooth, look at what kind of things it bring to us now?!
widespread interference
Remember what a Palm really is
802.11b is a wireless LAN environment. Just as you wouldn't normally hook your keyboard into ethernet, you wouldn't normally hook a Palm to 802.11b. Sure, it's possible, but it's not the main purpose.
orev
RE: Remember what a Palm really is
Not thinking clearly
OH my god...becky, look at her....Prism.
RE: Not thinking clearly
RE: Not thinking clearly
how long do you think somebody will found bluettoth security weakneses once it is out? it's not like Bluetooth mocule has a significantly higher processing power to do ultra encryption strength. Otherwise itwouldn't be called small and low power apps, would it?
802.11 security is bad
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Finally someone who got it