The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has announced this week a plan to let the Bluetooth run over high-bandwidth Wi-Fi radios, in addition to the short-range, 1M to 3Mbps Bluetooth radios in use today.

What does that mean in English?

Primarily, that your Bluetooth devices will get a lot faster next year by taking advantage of the Wi-Fi technology already built into many gadgets.

MSNBC puts it pretty clearly;

Linking Bluetooth and Wi-Fi may make it easier and faster to transfer large amounts of music between computers and cell phones, or send pictures from a camera phone to a printer, or video from a camcorder to a TV.

Michael Foley, director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, said the first devices with the technology could be on the market in the middle of next year. The industry group behind Bluetooth, which has more than 10,000 member companies, plans to announce Monday that it is pursuing the technology and will make it available next year.

(…)

The combination devices will use the regular low-power Bluetooth radios to recognize each other and establish connections. If they need to transfer a large file, they will be able to turn on their Wi-Fi radios, then turn them off to save power after finishing the transfer, Foley said.

A whole new world’s a-coming, folks.

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It’s officially official, the world is getting more and more mobile every single day.  The days of cables, clutter, heavy computers and cell phones the size of giant walkie talkies (think Zach Morris on Saved by the Bell) have come and gone and the days of Bluetooth, MoGo Mouses and Headsets, miniature cell phones, and yes, cableless USB laptops have started.

They are calling it “Wireless USB” (how original) and so far there are 2 laptops that have been approved for it, the Dell Inspiron 1720, and the Lenovo T61.  According to the article over at CNet, “Wireless USB will enable peripherals like printers, cameras, mice and hard drives to connect to a PC without a USB cable from distances of up to 16 to 25 feet. As Wireless USB is just beginning to be rolled out for consumers, Wireless USB hubs will be required to connect PCs and peripherals at first….”

Hmm, sounds a lot like Bluetooth.  I don’t know, I think this will definitely revolutionize computer accessories and add-ons, but personally, I’m very curious to see where the Bluetooth industry will go from here.  I see big things in both technology’s futures, so it will be very fun seeing what innovations are made.  I feel like I see innovation on a daily basis working for MoGo right now, and it’s fun to be on the cutting edge.

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