As a technology, Bluetooth has evolved to support many types of functionality via profiles. Without a recommended design for mobile handsets it is possible for many different designs to come market, the end result being products that do not communicate at all, or have limited feature functionality.
To address this issue, the OMTP initiated a task with the objective of improving the end user experience for Bluetooth. Some of the world’s largest mobile operators, mobile manufacturers and chipset suppliers have supported the task. Recommendations have now been published and are available for public download from www.omtp.org/publications.aspx.
The recommendations support a number of scenarios, including the use of Bluetooth for connection with a headset, listening to stereo audio, in car use, transferring files between a variety of devices and wireless printing. The recommendations define two classes of Bluetooth which must be implemented on a mobile terminal with Bluetooth Core Specification Version 2 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate).
Tim Raby, managing director at the OMTP, said: “Bluetooth is a key capability in mobile devices but at present, it is not always clear which devices can connect to other devices or accessories for different wireless features. By introducing just a basic and advanced class of devices, consumers will avoid the situation where different Bluetooth devices cannot communicate because they support different profiles or revisions.”