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Posts with tag 'bluetooth'
University of Wales Bluetooth Campaign
The University of Wales Institute in Cardiff is using a Bluetooth marketing campaign to attract potential students.
Visitors to the Cardiff city centre with discoverable Bluetooth devices can receive a screensaver image linked to UWIC's "Cardiff's Calling" campaign, to encourage them to visit their website.
Parachute and Hypertag Proximity Marketing In Chicago
Parachute Marketing Group has brought cutting-edge Bluetooth proximity marketing to the Mid-West by deploying Hypertag units at events over the last several months.
As the sole authorized U.S. partner of Hypertag, a UK-based Bluetooth proximity marketing company, Parachute has brought Bluetooth marketing to consumers at the Chicago Bears Fan Festival (March 31-April 1) Bluesfest (June 7-10), Summerfest (June 29-July 8 in Milwaukee, WI) and the Taste of Chicago (June 29-July 8). Hypertag has also been in operation at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for the entire Cardinal’s season.
CityWare: Facebook + Bluetooth Mashup
According to this BBC article, a team of Bath University scientists is combining the power of social networking site Facebook with Bluetooth to learn more about human interactions.
To facilitate this, the researchers have set up Bluetooth proximity nodes around the UK and at locations in the US. Users opt in by registering with a Facebook tool, called Cityware.Then, when they are out and about, the Bluetooth nodes--which are constantly scanning for Bluetooth-enabled devices in a given area--send that information back to servers which compare the IDs of the gadgets with any enabled Facebook profiles.
As described by Dr Vassilis Kostakos, research associate at the University of Bath: "When you return to Facebook you will see a list of all the devices you were near and the link to profiles of people who have tagged themselves on Cityware."
If you find that to be a rather antisocial approach to social networking, well--you are not alone. Witness Gizmodo's take on the network:
Bluetooth/Facebook Nodes Take Even More Human Interaction Out of Meeting People
Or how about this one, courtesy of the boygeniusreport:
Walk by total strangers and meet them. But later.
In defense of the Bath team, the Facebook tool is said to be part of a wider plan to study issues regarding pervasive computing in the environment.
But that won't stop us from having a little fun with it in the meantime.
Linux-based Bluetooth Access Point
News from Linux PR:
The Parani-MSP1000A is a Bluetooth Access Point product line designed to manage up to 7 Bluetooth devices over 10/100 Base-T Ethernet network with advanced options. The unit supports several Bluetooth profiles including Serial Port, LAN, PAN, DUN and FTP profiles. The nominal range is 150m, which can be extended up to 100m using an optional patch antenna.
As the headline suggests, the unit runs on a linux platform. Actually, this is one of the application areas (embedded network appliance) where running on linux is the norm. I would be more surprised (and fearful) to hear about one running Windows. The unit also uses Python for scripting customizations, giving it more techie cred.
MobiZone and Zoom Media Launch Bluetooth Advertising Network
From PRWEB: MobiZone and Zoom Media announced the launch of a Bluetooth advertising network in over 100 bars and restaurants in New York, Chicago and LA.
Working in partnership with Paris-based Kameleon Technologies, MobiZone will provide mobile phone delivery of free content including full motion video, audio and graphics supported by the Zoom Media out of home network.
According to Lee Levitz, Vice President of Marketing at Zoom Media, Zoom's network of restaurants and nightclubs are perfect locations for the Bluetooth-enabled billboards because of the high traffic levels, and the ability to attract affluent, young, trend-setting consumers that often spend long periods of 'dwell time' around the boards. This is consistent with my belief that proximity marketing is only going to succeed where there is a consumer-driven incentive for accepting broadcasts.
Link to announcement.
MobiZone was founded to create Bluetooth networks and partnerships with key players in the mobile marketing and out of home media space in the United States
Zoom Media has become one of the fastest growing companies in the out-of-home and
experiential marketing sector over the past five years
Kameleon develops technology to allow Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones to access automatically and in one click, a variety of information and multimedia content.
More Praise For Jawbone
At iphonematters, another glowing review for the Jawbone. To quote the title:
"Believe the Hype. Jawbone IS the Best Bluetooth Headset"
I have heard good reviews directly from users as well as online reviews. I would already have one, except that my BlackJack supports A2DP (stereo Bluetooth) which is a good thing, but unfortunately it does not support an audio gateway (to play music on a mono headset).
New Motorola Bluetooth Sunglasses
Motorola and Oakley have produced a newer, slimmer version of their Bluetooth sunglasses, for listening to music wirelessly on the go whilst simultaneously protecting your eyes from those harmful UV rays. Named the O ROKR Pro, the product also supports AVRCP so you can control your music directly from the shades, and they can double as a wireless headset.
BTW, I am curious: is it really a good idea to market a product with a single letter in the name? How do search engines handle that?
CSR Sees Bluetooth Demand Strong For '07
From the I-could-have-told-you-that category, U.K. based electronics company CSR --which specializes in Bluetooth technology--Wednesday reported a 6% rise in net profit and said it expected strong growth in the market over the remainder of the year as the technology appears in more games consoles and other devices.
"We continue to see numerous future growth opportunities for Bluetooth as well as for the broader range of short range wireless technologies that are part of our portfolio," said Chief Executive John Scarisbrick.
CSR derives more than 50% of its revenues from devices other than mobile handsets, including Sony Corp.'s (SNE) PlayStation 3 computer games console and Samsung MP3 players. More recently CSR has provided Bluetooth technology in Apple's iPhone--perhaps you've heard of this product?
Link at CNNMoney.com.
Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset Arrives
Up to now I have resisted commenting on the iPhone. Nothing against it--I am just quite happy with my Blackjack, and also there are roughly 109 other blogs and websites already discussing the phenomenon. However, when I heard that Apple's version of a Bluetooth wireless headset is now available, I figured it was time to take a look.
It is small and stylish enough (this is Apple after all), but it seems like it may not be Insanely Greattm. According to this article on Slashgear, for example, the sound quality leaves a lot to be desired.
So although I'm sure iPhonians will embrace it, warts and all, it doesn't seem like it will be a threat to the truly Insanely Greattm Jawbone.
NEC Pen Computer
NEC has developed a pen-style concept personal computer named P-ISM, which somehow stands for "Pen-style Personal Networking Gadget Package". This was apparently announced a few years ago and I somehow missed it, but it is still cool and hasn't been obsoleted by any means.
The different pens work like this: one pen acts as a cellular phone with handwriting data input capability, the second pen is a camera scanner, the third pen projects a virtual keyboard, the fourth pen projects a display screen, and the fifth can function as a peronal ID key with cashless pass function. The pens are connected using Bluetooth (that must be fun to coordinate), and the whole set is connected to the Internet via the cellular phone function.
Link courtesy of slashgear.com.
Podcast: Best of Bluetooth Headsets
At Gearlog Radio: "The Best of Bluetooth Headsets, Geek Politics, and More".
Interesting podcast at Gearlog including (among other things) a review of Bluetooth headsets (yeah, I know--you know that already from the title). According to the post: "We dive into the world of Bluetooth headsets and which ones are the sexiest and most stylish." With an intro like that, how can you resist?
Unilabplus UK Releases Latest Proximity Marketing Software
Unilabplus UK today announced the latest release of BlueDar, their Bluetooth Proximity Marketing software.
BlueDar supports proximity push of many different types of content to mobile phones, including video clips, images, mp3 files, evouchers, ebusiness cards, event reminders, ebrochures, and java games
According to Managing Director, Stefanos Cunning: "There are a number of ways our products can be used to benefit your business - by delivering content directly to consumers' mobile phones. You can increase the impact of any outdoor advertising campaign or add an interactive element to your exhibition or event."
Link courtesy of goarticles.com.
Bluetooth with 1km range
In a move I can only describe as a blatant attempt to mess with Bluetooth proximity marketers everywhere, wireless chip specialist Ezurio has pushed out the boundaries of Bluetooth with a module that gives the short-range wireless protocol a range of 1 km.
Kidding aside, this could be beneficial in a couple of ways:
- Extending the physical reach of proximity marketing
- Improving the quality of short range connections
Although Bluetooth is typically viewed as a very short range technology, the standard supports a high-power opton. According to the article, Ezurio has already supplied "hundreds of thousands" of Bluetooth modules to customers using the protocol over these distances.
Via Techworld .
In Search Of Transcend
On or about October 12 of last year (2006), the Bluetooth SIG introduced its TransSend client/server application at the Digital Life consumer electronics tradeshow in New York. TransSend is an application which allows Internet content such as maps, addresses, phone numbers and images to be wirelessly transferred from a Bluetooth enabled PC to a Bluetooth phone or PDA. By providing this technology free of charge, the Bluetooth SIG hopes to help increase customer awareness and usage of Bluetooth-enabled devices and drive visitors to TransSend enabled web sites.
In the words of Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG: "TransSend reinforces the Bluetooth SIG’s commitment to our member companies to find new, exciting ways for their customers to use Bluetooth enabled devices and to consumers to make their lives simpler and more convenient. TransSend is a simple solution with obvious value for the consumer that will increase usage and familiarity with Bluetooth object push applications."
More of the announcement and details at this link.
At the time, the announcement received healthy coverage by a wide variety of blogs and sites such as Gizmodo. So I recently decided to take a look around to see where I could find examples of TransSend being used on websites. Unfortunately, at least with the quick search I did, I was able to find lots of blog postings on TransSend, but the only site I could find with an actual transcend button was the Bluetooth SIG site.
For example, here .
This doesn't mean they aren't out there--it could just mean my Google skillz are not what I think they are. Maybe the buttons aren't easily showing up on Google, or the blog postings are obscuring them. In any case, I might do some further research and report back at a later date.
iPod Bikini: 2nd Sexiest Bluetooth App Ever
I never imagined I would have the word "bikini" in the the title of a post on this blog, much less in the same sentence with "Bluetooth". However, Korean company JWin has developed a bikini top with Bluetooth controls sewn in to operate an iPod (suitably Bluetooth-equipped of course), allowing the wearer to perform all the usual options, from adjusting the volume to selecting tracks. The ergonomics may not be the best, but the conversational value will likely more than make up for it.
A picture is included in the post, as I thought it best not to leave it to your imagination.
Link courtesy of The Register.
Oh, the #1 sexiest Bluetooth app? Here.
TI Announces Ultra Low Power Bluetooth
Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) will develop chips for low-power devices based on a new short-range wireless Bluetooth specification, the company said Tuesday.
Ultra Low Power (ULP) Bluetooth will have a range up to 10 meters--similar to Class 2 Bluetooth but using less power. According to the article, a ULP device powered by a button-cell battery will have an average operating life of one year!
link courtesy of Washing Post.
Introduction To Bluetooth Profiles
One of the goals of Bluetooth was to create a standard technology that worked the same across a wide variety of consumer devices, likely coming from a wide variety of manufacturers. Furthermore, it is important that a device from one manufacturer is able to interoperate—that is, connect and communicate--with another Bluetooth device from another unrelated manufacturer. Without such standardization, companies would start developing and promoting their own Bluetooth standards which would create connection problems, delay or prevent adoption of Bluetooth, and generally cause confusion. To help ensure standardization and interoperability, the Bluetooth consortium not only defined the wireless radio standard, but also carefully defined standards for different applications of Bluetooth, which they named “profiles”.
Like most new technologies, the Bluetooth specification has gone through a few revisions already, including 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, and the currently available version, 2.0. Version 1.1 is still common on devices that are readily available, and is a good reference version for discussing the major Bluetooth profiles. (Version 1.2 is also relatively common and has similar functions as 1.1),. Version 1.1 has 13 profiles defined as follows:
Generic Access Profile (GAP): This profile which defines how two Bluetooth devices discover and establish communications with each other. The GAP profile does not define specific application functions for the user, but rather it is a base profile that defines the modes and procedures that all the other profiles use.
Service Discovery Application Profile (SDAP): As the name implies, this profiles allows Bluetooth devices to query the services available on other Bluetooth devices.
Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP): Defines how a Bluetooth device can be used as a cordless phone.
Intercom Profile: Defines how two Bluetooth phones can connect with each other directly without the use of the public telephone network.
Serial Port Profile (SPP): Defines how two Bluetooth devices can communicate with each other by using virtual serial ports. Using this profile, Bluetooth communication can be treated as just another serial communication.
Headset Profile (HS or HSP): The HSP describes how a Bluetooth wireless headset should communicate with another device, typically a Bluetooth phone but it could also be a PC or Personal Digital Assistance (PDA).
Dial-Up Networking Profile (DNP or DUN): Defines how a Bluetooth device can connect to a Bluetooth-enabled modem or mobile phone. The most common scenario is accessing the Internet from a laptop by dialing up on a mobile phone, wirelessly instead of through a cable from the laptop to the phone. It is based on the SPP.
Fax Profile (FP): Defines how a Bluetooth device can connect to a Bluetooth-enabled fax device, such as a fax machine or a fax-enabled mobile phone.
LAN Access Profile (LAP): Defines how a Bluetooth-enabled device can connect to a computer network.
Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP): Defines a set of protocols that applications use for exchanging objects.
Object Push Profile (OPP): OPP is used to send and receive objects and files between Bluetooth devices. OPP typically only supports certain types of objects—commonly this includes electronic business cards and media like photos, wallpaper and ringtones. It is called “Push” because the sender initiates the communication with the intention of “pushing” a file to the receiver. This is different a “pull” system like a Web browser where the receiver (you and the browser) “pull” or request a file from the sender (Web server).
File Transfer Profile (FTP): This profile works together with the GOEP and is another way to transfer files between two Bluetooth devices.
Synchronization Profile (SP): This works like Microsoft ActiveSync—it is used together with GOEP to synchronize calendar and address information between two Bluetooth devices, such as a laptop and mobile phone.
There are a couple of other commonly used profiles:
- Hands-Free Profile (HFP): HFP allows you to talk on your Bluetooth mobile from inside your car, leaving your hands free to operate the car (where it is legal to do so, of course). HFP requires a hands-free kit or cradle inside the car to provide a different speaker and microphone to conduct the conversation through instead of using the phones speaker and microphone. It is also possible to get specialized car stereos that have this built in.
- Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) and Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP): These profiles usually work together in Bluetooth wireless stereo headphones. The A2DP profile provides higher quality sound than the Headset Profile as well as providing stereo sound instead of mono sound.
New profiles have been developed and others are in the works, but the above list covers the major profiles. Actually, at this point in time, the average consumer will get by with awareness of only a few of them: Headset, Object Push, and Hands-Free. As more Bluetooth products and applications are released, other profiles will come into popular use as driven by the consumer market.
Bluetooth For Ungeeks
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a technology for wirelessly connecting devices over short distances, including cell phones, headsets, computers, handheld computers (PDAs like a Palm Pilot), keyboards, mice, cameras, and a list of other devices which is growing all the time. Bluetooth is commonly used to connect two device to communicate with each other, such as a cell phone and wireless headset. But it also allows communication between several devices in a small wireless network.
No introduction on Bluetooth would be complete without the obligatory mention of how it got its name, so here goes: Bluetooth was named after King Harald Blatand who ruled Denmark in the 10th century. My Norwegian is not very good, but apparently Blatand means "bluetooth" in English. Blatand was famous (at least in Scandinavia) for bringing together warring tribes in the areas of what is now Denmark, Sweden and Norway. In a similar way, Bluetooth the technology was created to bring together or unite many different device technologies. And maybe to bring together warring "mobile phone" companies since the primary members of the Bluetooth consortium included the big cell phone companies such as Ericsson, Nokia and Motorola as well as computer companies such as IBM, Intel, Microsoft and Toshiba. Curiously, no-one seems to want to mention how Harald got the name "Bluetooth" in the first place, leaving me to speculate on dental hygiene issues best left unsaid after all.
In order to use Bluetooth for its various applications I will discuss shortly, a device such as your cell phone must have a special Bluetooth chip inside. Fortunately, because Bluetooth is a low-cost technology we are seeing more products being released which support Bluetooth. Your Bluetooth-enabled coffee pot cannot be far off in the future. (Actually, maybe that's not so crazy--I could check the level of coffee in the coffee pot from my desk). Bluetooth supports a number of different services, also called "profiles". For example, the service that is used to make a phone call using a Bluetooth wireless headset and a cell phone is called the "Hands Free Profile". Some devices like the headset are special purpose and only support one or two profiles, because that's all that makes sense. Currently, even cell phones don't support all the available services, but that will change over time and all phones will be expected to support the common services.
Benefits Of Bluetooth
- Eliminate cables: The most obvious benefit of Bluetooth is to eliminate the one or more set of wires that seem to come with every consumer device or gadget you might think of connecting to a computer. Bluetooth allows you to free yourself from headset and headphones wires, as well as eliminate tangling and unsightly cables on your desktop which connect devices like your mouse and keyboard to your computer.
- Low cost: The cost is lower than for other wireless technologies, and similar to the cost for wired connections (you may have noticed: computer cables are not all that cheap). So for about the same cost it is often better to have the convenience of having no wires.
- Low power: Bluetooth can be "always on", but uses a variety of geeky electronic tricks to keep power consumption very low. I can go at least a week without charging my Bluetooth headset.
- Convenient and standard: For example, if you want to connect to a different device, you won't need a different cable or adapter. A Bluetooth-equipped device can talk to any other Bluetooth device as long as it supports the service you want to use. And these services will become more standard and common as time goes on.
- Security: Since wireless communication goes out over the air, there is always the possibility of someone "snooping" on your private (or perhaps then, not-so-private) communication. Bluetooth has security built into to its core to make it extremely difficult to listen in on your communication. For one thing, the radio signal hops around on 79 different frequencies, 1600 times a second making it very hard to track. Devices can also be "paired", where a user must enter a secret passkey, typically a 4-digit number like a pin number for your ATM card. Without the proper pin code, the connection is refused.
- Communicate through walls: Bluetooth operates at radio frequencies that can pass through walls and other obstructions. This is similar to WiFi, but infrared beaming, for example, cannot pass through walls. This could useful in your home, but is also important for places which may want to use Bluetooth for business applications.
Bluetooth Applications
I have already touched on some of the common applications, but here is a list of some of the many ways Bluetooth can be used:
- As mentioned previously, one of the most common application applications currently is using a Bluetooth heaset to talk through your cellphone, allowing very comfortable phone conversation without dangling wires or tangles, talking with your phones pressed against your heard cradled on your neck.
- Transfering pictures form your camera phone to your computer. This is more convenient than plugging into your computer and without the cost or hassle of sending pictures to your email account over your cell phone provider's netork.
- You can exchange also exchange pictures, as well as ringtones, wallpaper and songs with friends or family who have a bluetooth phone. You don't need a computer or even a cell phone connection to do this. Let's say you are a government agent being held prisoner in a secret fortress on a Carribbean island that doesn't have cell phone coverage, not even that Verizon guy who's almost everywhere. You could use Bluetooth to exchange ringtones with the prisoner in the room next to you. Although in that case they would probably take away your phone and maybe exchanging the latest ringtone is not your biggest concern in that case. Ok, so my analogy was not that great--maybe instead we should imagine that it's just you and your friend passing time on the subway by exchanging ringtones and wallpaper from the latest popular artists.
- Wirelessly connecting peripherals to your computer or laptop. Peripherals is the name for all those things you are obligated to connect to your computer to actually be able to do anything useful. A number of those devices now support wireless connection to your computer using our friend Bluetooth, including mice keyboards and printers. It may seem like no big deal at first to worry about removing the few feet or inches of cable to your computer, but once you've tried it, removing the clutter, tangles, and unsightliness oc cables makes for a more enjoyable user experience.
- Wireless stereo headphones. This one alone is enough to sell me on Bluetooth. I hate wrestling with headphone wires, especially when traveling. Also, when I want to listen to music at my desk, I have to hope the wires are long enough to reach from my chair to the back of the computer, and I get tired of explaining to my coworkers why I am sitting under my desk. I won't even go into those moments of physical comedy when you forget you have headphones on and try to move away from your desk.
- Wireless gaming. Bluetooth is now being used for wireless game system controllers such as the Nintendo Wii or to rock out wireless on Guitar Hero. Because if you are serious about pretending you are a rock star with a fake, plastic guitar, you may as well pretend you are a rock star with a wireless (fake, plastic) guitar.
- There are more applications for connecting devices wirelessly, and more coming in the future, including:
- Digital cameras, to download photos to your personal computer or even directly to a photo printer.
- Connecting to a Bluetooth enabled car for safer hands-free talking or listening.
- Connection to GPS devices.
- MP3 players. You should be able to download songs from all kinds of places and things, maybe even your refrigerator. Don't laugh--it may be coming.
Hopefully I've given you a good introduction on what Bluetooth is all about. In the near future, it is likely that Bluetooth usage for connecting wireless devices will be so common that people will wonder why we ever used wires.
What Is Proximity Marketing?
Wikipedia defines proximity marketing as"... the localized wireless distribution of advertising content associated with a particular place. "
Proximity
The first key point relates to localized distribution. The idea is that relevant information is pushed or offered to the consumer only when he/she is physically close (hence, "proximity") to the information source. Such an interaction implies movement into the target zone--therefore it makes sense that wireless devices, particularly cellphones, are the preferred device for proximity marketing.
A proximity marketing system must employ some technology which is capable of discovering users in the target zone. Currently, Bluetooth is the standard choice, but other options include WIFI, cell tower proximity, GPS and RFID. Although Bluetooth is not without some challenges, including lack of standardization in its profiles, the other technologies are presently lacking one or more key attributes needed for this kind of interaction. The details of this are a topic for another article.
Marketing
The second key point in proximity marketing is, naturally, "marketing". Although a variety of different types of applications and/or communication could be imagined for a proximity scenario, the term proximity marketing is specifically focused on the use of wireless proximity communication for the purpose of marketing or advertising a business or service. Current examples of relevant marketing applications include:
- A store in the proximity of the customer (or vice versa, I suppose) sends the customer a message regarding a special or coupon for the store.
- At a music event, a proximity marketing point is used to allow fans to receive ringtones, wallpaper or mp3s for their favorite band.
- For marketing at a conference: offering contact information and other promotional material.
Opting In
A third key concept, not explicitly stated, is the concept of "opt in". Advertising transmissions should only be received by individuals who elect to receive them. Although viewers got used to mass advertising related to television, the massive problem of email spam has made users hypersensitive to unwanted communication. This problem will be magnified on a cellphone where real estate is at an ultra-premium.
Some people will be adverse to marketing or advertisement of any kind. Of course, these are the same people who want free television, free bandwidth and free beer, if possible. However, I believe there is enough evidence to support the idea that most reasonable people don't mind marketing when it is of high quality, not terribly intrusive, and--most importantly--if it has a high relevance to their personal situations, needs and desires. One of the objections to mass advertising of any kind is that it frequently comes to the wrong consumer at the wrong time? How often do you actually buy a car compared to the thousands of times (per day maybe) you are hit with new car adverts? I won't even go into the issues surrounding feminine hygiene and male performance products. Done correctly, proximity marketing can be a win-win proposition for advertisers as well as consumers. Advertisers can get a much better response from consumers actually in the vicinity of a product or service, especially if they opt in. Consumers get advertisement that is much more likely to be relevant or convenient for them at that moment.