Wifi Revolution

The current world population is about 6.5 billion. Of those humans, more than one billion are now using Bluetooth-enabled devices, Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) said today.

 

The number of wireless devices in use continues to grow by about 12 million new shipments each week, the organization said, citing information from ABI Research (News - Alert).

 

“To put this number in perspective, one billion is greater than the number of PC users in the world and equal to the number of mobile phones shipped this year,” said Bluetooth SIG Executive Director Michael Foley, in a statement.

 

Foley added that he expects next year Bluetooth will be incorporated into even more types of devices, including those for the home entertainment, medical and gaming industries.

 

In a statement, ABI Research analyst Stuart Carlaw said that, despite a slight downturn recently in shipments of mobile handsets, it doesn’t appear Bluetooth will become less popular anytime in the near future.

 

“Bluetooth shipments will continue to grow at a strong pace with increased demand for the feature in mobile phones, headsets, stereo audio headphones and automobiles, among others,” Carlaw said.

 

Now that Bluetooth has exceeded the one billion mark, what’s next?

 

Foley said Bluetooth SIG’s goal for 2010 is to ship two billion Bluetooth devices in a single year.

 

If things continue as they’ve been going, that goal just may be achievable.

 

“One change in the marketplace we see really driving adoption of Bluetooth stereo headsets and contributing to that next billion devices is the growth of mobile TV,” said Yoram Solomon, a representative from both Texas Instruments (News - Alert) and Mobile DTV Alliance.

 

Solomon added: “It’s pretty simple -- people want good quality sound when watching TV and the speaker built into mobile phones isn't going to cut it. Bluetooth stereo headsets provide the key quality component to the mobile TV experience.”

 

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