Bluetooth to reach $4.4 billion chip potential in 2005, says report

Bluetooth to reach $4.4 billion chip potential in 2005, says report
By Semiconductor Business News
April 25, 2001 (9:22 a.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20010425S0013

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--Despite a number of setbacks--including product delays, an economic slowdown, and a wave of negative reports--the Bluetooth wireless connection format is still expected to grow to 955 million units in 2005, according to a new report from Cahners In-State Group here.

The research firm said the five-year compound annual growth rate for Bluetooth will still be at a highly respectable 360% between now and 2005. Moreover, the semiconductor potential in Bluetooth will reach $4.4 billion in 2005, said the market research company.

The year 2000 was "a year of trials and tribulations for Bluetooth," said Joyce Putscher, director of the Consumer and Converging Markets and Technologies Group at In-Stat. "However, positive signs are here as more silicon is going into production, more products are closing in on production schedules and are coming to market very soon."

In-Stat said the first "hot spot" projects have already appeare d in hotels, shopping malls, golf courses, airports, and more are expected to come to fruition by the end of the year.