Has Bluetooth fallen out of favour in the U.S.?

[gklinger]

I was pretty surprised when I learned that the U.S. version of the TH55 wouldn't include Bluetooth and the European version would. Today I was reading The Register and I came across an interesting story (http://www.theregister.com/content/68/35895.html) about Dell adding Bluetooth to one of their Axim PocketPCs but only in Europe. Could this have something to do with the popularity (almost total dominance) of GSM in Europe and that a lot of GSM phones have Bluetooth? It's a lame guess but it's all I could come up with. Any ideas?

[Rossi01]

I don't think that Bluetooth is out in the US, on the contrary.

Many of my workmates bought cellphones with Bluetooth capabilities and many use the wireless headset most of the time.

In my case, I also want a PDA that can synchronize via Bluetooth with my cellphone, PC, etc.

I'm only still considering the TH-55 because the European version is announced with Bluetooth. If it comes out without it I'll simply discard the TH. I'm not buying the UX-50 or other BT equipped Clies because of that cumbersome keyboard. As Sony "graciously" decided to phase-out the BT memory stick I cannot buy the TH and make it a BT device.

Therefore, if I cannot get a TH, or another "keyboardless" Clie decently equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (among other features) I may even consider moving to the Pocket PC PDAs as some of my friends already did.

[winexprt]

I doubt it ever was in favor here in the USA. WiFi gets ALL the attention. It is ubiquitous, whereas Bluetooth is next to unknown by the general public.

[SamuraiCatJB]

bluetooth has had mixed reactions in the US. I think partially from a misunderstanding of what it really was. Most of my friends at work got bluetooth thinking they could make a replacement for 802.11b home network. I tried to explain that it is like a wireless USB, multi-device communication to a computer/phone, etc. Most of them have already dumped it.

I actually wouldn't mind it, but I already have a 802.11b network, so as long as I can net-sync with the TH, I will be happy.

[winexprt]

I really think why Bluetooth has taken off in Europe as it has is the GSM standard. GSM is THE standard in Europe and it is a minority standard here in the U.S. So a prevalence of Bluetooth equipped phones means the majority of people are already walking around with half the equation for getting your Bluetooth equipped PDA on line.

[Rossi01]

It could be a case of information-misinformation.

Everyone I know who got a BT cellphone is happy because of the wireless headset. Some of my workmates are even discovering BT capabilities in their laptops and already synchronizing cellphone data between latptop, cellphone and PDA (the ones who got Pocket PC units).

Moreover, BT is a very nice feature to connect to the Internet where Wi-Fi is not avalable. I like every feature that can help me getting rid of wires. I already have a Wi-Fi network in my home, but still want the BT for my constant travels. In time, the folks I know who like BT are also constantly travelling. Therefore, if could be a niche, but that should not be neglected.

As I said, I'm waiting for the European version and will ask to some friend to bring me one if I'm not in Europe when it's lauched.

Anyways...I would hate imagining that Sony intentionally removed BT from the US version in order to push some other models.

[EdFrmBrighthand]

Bluetooth is rapidly catching on in the U.S. Just take a look at how many handhelds were released in 2003 with it built in. From Palm there's the Tungsten T2 and T3. From HP we have the iPAQ h1945, h2215, h4155, h4355, h5155, and h5555. Sony released the Clie UX50, UX40, TG50, and NZ90. Even ASUS has put out the A620BT and Tapwave has announced the Zodiac.

In addition, the number of Bluetooth accessories is growing rapidly. The first Bluetooth keyboard is expected in a few months, and you can already get modems, GPS units, headsets, and a tone more Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Sony has released a number of Clies with Bluetooth, but I wish it would commit to it. The lack of Bluetooth in the U.S. version of the TH55 was a major disappointment.

[Rossi01]

In addition, the number of Bluetooth accessories is growing rapidly. The first Bluetooth keyboard is expected in a few months, and you can already get modems, GPS units, headsets, and a tone more Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Sony has released a number of Clies with Bluetooth, but I wish it would commit to it. The lack of Bluetooth in the U.S. version of the TH55 was a major disappointment. [/B]


Actually, I just saw a nice set from Logitech in Fry's. It has a BT hub, keyboard and mouse. Price was around $170. Ir's in my list... :-)

The Hub allows for up to seven BT devices connected through it.

And I agree... I'm VERY disapointed at Sony because of this "slip".

[footy]

Originally posted by winexprt
I really think why Bluetooth has taken off in Europe as it has is the GSM standard. GSM is THE standard in Europe and it is a minority standard here in the U.S. So a prevalence of Bluetooth equipped phones means the majority of people are already walking around with half the equation for getting your Bluetooth equipped PDA on line.

Cingular+AT&T merger=largest U.S. cellular company, with a ton of Bluetooth phones and a GSM network to boot, so I don't think it's GSM that's holding Bluetooth back. Probably moreso consumer confusion and lack of standardization.

[timepilot84]

When I bought my Tungsten T a year and a half ago, I was excited about Bluetooth. I really like the Bluetooth Standard from a technical standpoint. I skipped down to my cell phone provider and found out that Verizon has no phones that I could buy new that have Bluetooth.

I used a BT USB adapter (a powerful Class 1 adapter from Belkin) to connect to my computer and found out first hand the limitations of a 1mW transmitter(the class 3 transmitter on the TT). I'd have a slow connection sitting a mere 20 feet from my base station. It occurred to me one day how absurd it was that I'd bought a 12 foot USB cable so that I could move the adapter closer to where I was working (ie either the living room, the backyard, or the bathroom).

Once you accept the limitations of the technology, it's fine. One of the more irritating things about BT on the Palm is that they didn't implement several of the BT use cases that would be most useful to a Palm user, like a BT keyboard, or and audio connector. Palm's implementation of BT is primarily to use a BT phone with it and to allow you to sync with your desktop wirelessly. When I got my TT, you couldn't use the network connection feature, I had to create a virtual serial port on my home machine and run a PPP daemon to connect my Palm to the Internet( a patch came several months later)

Considering that I don't have a BT phone, which seems to be most of the people in this forums concern, giving up BT wasn't that big of a deal for me.

I think that Bluetooth is here to stay, but you'll reallly see it come into its own when companies start making more BT devices that use the technology in far more mundane tasks than the way it's being used now.

[JOHNGAETANO]

Bluetooth is like the metric system for us state bound people. Seems like it was never accepted totally, although I am surprised Sony decided to leave it off the TH.

I used it to sync, and I'm sure if I had a Bluetooth phone I would have used it also. Syncing is slow compared to a cable.

John

[ClieKun]

BT might not be as popular are some thought years ago. But Sony still might include it on higher models.

[KwaiFeh]

Didn't the same thing happen with the NX80 and NX73? I think the euro versions of them had BT installed.

I don't understand why sony won't install it. I don't think adding BT would increase the cost by much. And it would certainly help to increase sales for those who have BT technology stuff.

Or maybe the problem is not a sony decision, but rather an radio emission thing? i.e. it wouldn't pass FCC regulation if the pda had it? (It would be kind of dumb if this was the reason... the UX has it, why not the TH?)

[krypticide]

Intel recently had a press release stating they were dropping Bluetooth support (or leaving the Bluetooth development group, something like that) because it has cost too much money, took too long to develop, and they are working on another, better technology. For my own personal use, MIT has 802.11b all over the place, and that is most important to me. The only use I'd have for Bluetooth is wireless syncing to my T30 (whose Bluetooth I never use), but I can just do that over 802.11b

[ClieKun]

why is not a surprise. With many company jumping ship in the usa. But europe is a different story.

[rldunn]

As winxpert said, I don't think it's fallen out of favor - I just think it never was in favor. And it's really a chicken and egg problem. There's no need for it, since there's nothing to use it with currently. But I think if I had a bunch of Bluetooth stuff, I could think of some cool uses for them. However, now it's not a big deal, so I really don't mind that the US devices don't include it.

[Floater_]

honestly, my opinion is that with the way companies keep "negating" bluetooth in US products, it's never going to catch on around here.

I understand that it costs them money to put BT into the machinery, but by not including BT in any devices, they are essentially making the situation worse here, and futhering the gap between American and European BT growth.

[Rossi01]

Well... I dropped Sprint as my cellphone provider because they did not have any decent phone for my use, that is with Bluetooth and IR. Sprint only had "camera phones". I patiently waited for the portability and moved to T-Mobile because I could get the Sony-Ericsson T610, which had BT AND IR among other nice features such as GSM, etc.

For me BT connectivity is a convenience that allows for transfering contacts information between my PDA and phone and PC without having to use cables or aiming IR ports. And also can get rid of the tangling wire between my phone and the headset (priceless).

BT would also allow me for sending photo files taken with my cameras via e-mail without the need to be in reach of a Wi-Fi network. That is, take a photo, remove the MS from the camera, place it in the PDA and send it using the phone. Cannot be more practical.

I currently own a Clie 760N, which used to be the top line a couple years ago. Now I'm thinking about an upgrade and if the UX had a bigger screen and no keyboard it would be my PDA of choice. My joy to see the new TH lasted very short, that is, until I saw it did not have BT. I thought about buying the BT MS but Sony decided to "conveniently" discontinue it.

However, as I was wandering in Fry's PDA alley I saw that the Pocket PC world developed lots of support for BT from expansion cards to GPS receivers. That made me starting wondering if I'm using the right platform as many of my friends who moved to Pocket PC say. Do not get me wrong. I do not like Microsoft stuff and would rather stay with the Palm OS, but it seems the latter is losing the battle for innovation.

[contempt]

I used to be part of the Bluetooth SIG way back when it was trying to get introduced. And it's sad after all this time it's still not the norm. I think winexprt is right that in Europe it's tied so heavily to GSM phones. If you think about it, most phones in the U.S. that offer bluetooth are GSM and that's where the excitement is coming from.

It's just a slow adoption here and I'm glad that Apple, Microsoft and Logitech offer their bluetooth mice and keyboards. But someone else needs to market even larger scale adaptations in order for it to succeed. I remember getting all excited hearing about bluetooth washing machines that would read bluetooth enabled washing labels on your clothes and adjust itself accordingly. Well, that was the promise and I doubt we'll be anywhere near that.

[ClieKun]

it never fails :p