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Wireless USB Vs. Bluetooth: Battle Royale

As the release date for Wireless USB drawsBluetooth link. Issues with eavesdropping,
ever closer, discussion is heating up arounddata theft, and Bluetooth-spread viruses for
the emerging standard. In particular, therePDAs, cellphones, and computers have also
has been a lot of debate concerning the prosbeen reported. These problems are being dealt
and cons of Bluetooth versus Wireless USB.with as new revisions of Bluetooth are
Both of these standards offer particularreleased.
benefits as well as particular challenges,
and it appears that both standards will beThe creation of the Wireless USB Promoters
competing with each other for the sameGroup was announced in February of 2004 at
manufacturer and consumer base. Let's examinethe Intel Developer Forum. This group,
how  the  lines  are  being  drawn.composed of such companies as Intel,
Microsoft, NEC, HP and Samsung, is tasked
Bluetooth came onto the wireless scene in Maywith creating a wireless standard based on
of 1999. Initially developed by Ericsson, itthe exceptionally popular USB standard with
was quickly adopted by such companies asthe same type of interoperability and
Microsoft, Apple, Motorola, and Toshiba. Itsimplicity of use. Should the forum succeed
has since become a major standard forin their goal, Wireless USB could easily
wireless device connectivity. Usingbecome the wireless de facto standard for UWB
wide-band, low-power radio waves to transmit(ultra wideband) connectivity. The completion
data over short distances, Bluetooth has beenof the standard was announced in May of 2005
used for wireless keyboards, mice, and otherand the first Wireless USB products are
peripherals, cellular phones, PDAs, MP3slated to begin appearing in early 2006, with
players, and some digital cameras. Concerninga  strong  ramp  in  2007.
Bluetooth's popularity with cell phone
manufacturers in particular, one of theThere is no doubt that the Wireless USB
benefits of Bluetooth is that it has a veryPromoters Group has examined Bluetooth and
low power consumption rate, especially whendone its best to address the issues that have
it comes to audio transmission. This has madebeen problematic, such as interoperability
Bluetooth the technology of choice for celland security. While there have been delays
phone manufacturers looking to pair wirelessdue to testing and certification, Wireless
headsets  to  their  phones.USB looks to be superior in both security and
ease of connectivity. Where Bluetooth had
Despite widespread adoption by manycompatibility issues between different
manufacturers, Bluetooth has been plagued bydevelopers' products, Wireless USB's
some nagging problems. A major complaint hasadherence to the previous USB standards
been the lack of interoperability betweenshould serve to prevent similar problems. As
different manufacturers' Bluetooth devices.far as security is concerned, Bluetooth
For example, using a Motorola Bluetoothdepends on a four-digit pin number to ensure
headset has difficulty being connected withthat the correct device is being connected
an LG cell phone. Security has been anotherto, while Wireless USB is looking at using a
major issue with Bluetooth-enabled devices.USB cable to make the initial connection,
There have been documented instances ofafter which point the device can be used
device "hijackings" where a third party haswirelessly.
taken control of the device through the



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