Bluetooth(TM) and IEEE, Global Standards-Making

The first Project of the 802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs), is based on a derived standard from the Bluetooth(TM) Special Interest Group Version 1.0 Specification Foundation Core and Foundation Profiles, and will prove to be a major growth area for IEEE 802 standards.

One of the major goals for P802.15 as well as for the Bluetooth(TM) SIG is global usage.  While the P802.11 WLAN technologies are specifically designed for devices in and around the office or home, a P802.15 WPAN/Bluetooth(TM) device will provide travelers country to country usage - it will be used in cars, airplanes, boats and is truly designed for international use.

Because of this, much of the Bluetooth(TM) technology is focused on a single specification that meets the worldwide regulatory requirements that fall into two categories: security and spectrum/power.  As the radio link will contain private business and personal data/voice, security is a requirement for this.  As security is heavily regulated worldwide, the technology has to conform or work with the various worldwide agents to insure it meets these requirements.

In regards to spectrum and power, the technology needs to travel with the user.  Unlike a typical P802.11 WLAN, that is setup in one area and rarely moved, mobile devices travel with the users.  As such the technology needs to be designed such that a single technology meets the spectrum power requirements of the world (don't want to break the law when crossing a border).

This first P802.15 WPAN Project effort is fast tracking a standard derived from the Bluetooth(TM) Specifications for wireless networking of portable and mobile computing devices e.g., Organizers, Laptops, Cell Phones, etc. allowing these devices to communicate and interoperate with one another. The goal is to create a peer reviewed standard that has broad market applicability and deals effectively with the issues of coexistence with other wireless networking solutions. For more information contact Bob Heile, Chair of 802.15, at bheile@bbn.com or Ian Gifford, Vice Chair of 802.15 and Chair of Task Group 1, at giffordi@ieee.org or view the Web page at: http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/15/
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