Bluetooth’s recent decision to create a personal wireless hot spot for Internet access out of a Bluetooth personal area network (PAN) mobile phone and cellular service is likely to intensify the competition with other wireless options. The potential for the Bluetooth-plus-cellular hot spot application derives from the increase in Bluetooth’s maximum of 3 Mbit/s in Version 2.0 and the growing availability of higher-speed cellular networks, according to a recent Network World review. “Bluetooth has gained traction after a slow start. Now, it’s widely accepted as a technology that will stay with us and is emerging as a viable option for customers of personal networks connecting to phones for a short distance,” says Sean Wargo, director of industry analysis at CEA.

Bluetooth-enabled products due out this year include Nokia’s 6600 mobile phone with advanced imaging features, built-in video recorder with audio and RealOne player. In addition, look for, Motorola’s Razr V3, a Bluetooth Audio Player, Parrot CK 3100 hands-free car kit, and HP’s iPAQ rx3715 Mobile Media Companion, which allows the user to create music, photos and video wherever they go.

Products using this wireless technology now are swarming the market and are designed to replace cables between portable devices over a short range of 30 feet or less. Bluetooth’s Special Interest Group (SIG), which now numbers more than 2,000, packed the 2005 International CES with more than 150 members to demonstrate the short-range wireless technology in products from phone accessories to automobiles. The SIG’s key “promoter” members include Agere, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba.

The SIG expects to see products built with its version 2.0 specs hit the market in mid-2005. And Bluetooth’s namesake? The name was inspired by the Danish King Harald Bluetooth, famous for unifying Denmark and Norway in the 10th century.