Bluetooth Kicking into High Speed

[Ed Hardy]

The Bluetooth SIG has proposed a new version of this wireless networking standard that will offer up to three times faster data transfer speeds while using less power.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Fa...ndard_Proposed

[imported_jae]

I wonder whether Bluetooth EDR will provide more bandwidth for voice. The present Bluetooth only provides 64kbps per voice channel, which is inadequate for voice recognition which requires nearly 3 times that amount (16bits at approx. 11kHz).

It sure would be nice to be able to use high-quality Bluetooth headsets for voice recognition applications.

Note that I'm referring to the quality necessary to achieve dictation using applications such as IBM ViaVoice and Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

[Ed Hardy]

It seems likely. The Bluetooth SIG says that Bluetooth EDR will be good enough to connect speakers in home theater systems.

[k2stingray]

Well it's good to hear that BT is continuing to evolve. Sure hope the next version does not take as long to get out as 1.2. I seem to recall that 1.2 was approved in Nov/Dec last year and as yet there are still no BT 1.2 phones or PDA's that I know of - although I did read about future iPAQ's possibly having this.

Is there no speed increase in 1.2 above 1.1, thought there might be a slight improvement.

In regards to voice, thought BT1.2 was supposed to improve quality. I would assume that just having Adaptive Frequency Hopping will help so that there is less interferences from other equipment emitting at same frequency.

[Heda]

if EDR is 2.1 Mb, and 1.2 is 721Kb, then what was 1.1?

[robrecht]

"Though Bluetooth had a somewhat rocky launch, it would be difficult to assert that this wireless networking standard is anything less than successful now."

Even Verizon is coming out with its first integrated BT phone! Too bad its kinda bloated.

[Roadrunner7]

Originally posted by Heda
if EDR is 2.1 Mb, and 1.2 is 721Kb, then what was 1.1?

1.1 was also 721kb. 1.2 only brought adaptive frequency hopping, and maybe a couple of other "bug-fixes". No speed-increase.

[JackAubrey]

This is one of those announcements where I find myself saying "You mean it does not do that already?".

When I got my first BT PDA two years ago, I searched in earnest for a set of HiFi BT Headphones. Surprise: There weren't any.

BT is the wireless replacement for peripheral connections that were proviously wired. To me that means: audio and video. Anything less will end up being "replaced" in short order.