Company: Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)
Entry Submitted By: Porter Novelli
Company Description: Bluetooth SIG is a not-for-profit trade association founded in September 98. It has over 10,000 member companies in the telecom, computing, automotive, music and other industries that drive development of Bluetooth and implement and market it in their products. Member companies support working groups and committees that focus on specific areas, such as engineering, qualification, and marketing.
Nomination Category: Company & Office Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Most Innovative Company in Europe

Nomination Title: A Wireless Teenager Ready for the Future

   1. Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

          Since 2007, a number of milestones have marked a noteworthy transition for the
          Bluetooth SIG as a member organization behind a technology that is conquering
          the world. Not only did Bluetooth celebrate its 10th anniversary, but the
          organization also surpassed the mark of 10,000 member companies. In the same
          year, the total counter hit more than 2,000,000,000 Bluetooth devices in the
          marketplace – something no other wireless technology has ever achieved. Over the
          past year, Bluetooth technology has grown into a energetic teenager that is
          ready to cope with future growth spurts. The only way to do this is to keep
          innovating and re-inventing itself.
           
          In March 2007, the Bluetooth SIG announced the v2.1 + EDR core version. Whereas
          the name implies nothing more than a minor upgrade, the impact for end consumers
          is larger than ever. It provides an improved battery life and a better user
          experience to pair Bluetooth devices, resulting in fewer steps to pair devices
          and a better security. Bluetooth brought Near Field Communication technology
          under its umbrella, enabling two devices to pair by just holding them at a very
          short range. Bringing other wireless technologies in the mould is a unique
          approach that requires technical skills but also diplomacy and an open mind.

          In June 2007, the Bluetooth SIG welcomed the Nokia-developed Wibree technology
          into the fold and began work on a low energy variety of Bluetooth. Aimed at
          devices with very low battery capacity like watches, sports & fitness and
          healthcare applications, Low Energy Bluetooth will allow manufacturers in those
          segments to use a long awaited, globally standardized wireless technology.
          Thanks to elementary values such as low power, low cost, high security and
          robustness, Bluetooth technology is ideally suited for this.

          In February, 2008, the Bluetooth SIG announced the development of High Speed
          Bluetooth, using an innovative method of radio substitution that will allow the
          wireless transfer of large format entertainment data between devices at short
          range.  Also here, Bluetooth combines the best of both worlds by bringing
          together the technical simplicity of the Bluetooth protocol with high-speed
          capacity of existing wireless technologies such as 802.11 (‘wi-fi’) and
          Ultra-Wide Band. Applications will include wirelessly bulk synchronize music
          libraries between PC and MP3 player, bulk download photos to a printer or PC,
          send video files from camera or phone to computer or television.

          The Bluetooth SIG has created a delicate ecosystem where competitors in a market
          work together on innovative solutions that provide benefits to all, business and
          consumers. All these companies use the tools (Profile Tuning, Unplugfests,
          Interoperability testing) and events provided by the SIG not only to put new
          products in the market, but also to make these products work together. The SIG
          keeps a close eye on where wireless technology can go boldly where no other has
          gone before, and paves the way for its member companies to go there too.

   2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

          v2.1 + EDR:
          http://bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Press/SIG/BLUETOOTH_SIG_ADOPTS_NEW_CORE
_VERSION_21__EDR.htm
          http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/109194/bluetooth-21-simplifies-pairing-and-cuts-power
-consumption.html
          http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/03/30/bluetooth_2dot1_unveiled/  
          http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single8058  
          http://www.about-electronics.eu/2007/03/30/bluetooth-gets-upgrade-makes-it-easier-to
-pair-devices/
          http://blog.totalmobilemag.com/page/totalmobile?entry=new_bluetooth_easier_to_use
          http://www.esato.com/news/article.php/id=1592  

          Bluetooth Low Energy technology:
          http://bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Press/SIG/NOKIAS_LOW_POWER_WIBREE_BROUGHT
_INTO_BLUETOOTH_SIG.htm

          http://bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Press/SIG/BLUETOOTH_SIG_ANNOUNCES_MEDICAL
_DEVICE_PROFILE_AT_MEDICA_SHOW.htm

          http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;992123146;fp;4;fpid;18

          High Speed:
          http://bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Press/SIG/BLUETOOTH_TECHNOLOGY_TO_HARNESS
_THE_SPEED_OF_80211.htm

          http://bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Press/SIG/BLUETOOTH_SIG_SELECTS_WIMEDIA_ALLIANCE_ULTRAWIDEBAND_TECHNOLOGY
_FOR_HIGH_SPEED_BLUETOOTH_APPLICATION.htm

          http://www.click-incisor.com/click-flash-player.php?movie_file=VinceHolton_Incisor.flv

          http://www.click-incisor.com/click-flash-player.php?movie_file=AndersEdlund_B-SIG.flv
          http://www.click-incisor.com/click-flash-player.php?movie_file=SteveDeutscher_Motorola.flv

          http://www.click-incisor.com/click-flash-player.php?movie_file=RobinHeydon_CSR.flv

          On Bluetooth SIG and its activities:
          http://www.bluetooth.com
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tggxkPPaTPM

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:

          Dr. Mike Foley is Executive Director of the Bluetooth SIG since March 2004. He
          is responsible for guiding the qualification and interoperability programs,
          promotion of the technology, the specification publications, and the long-term
          roadmap of Bluetooth wireless technology.

          Dr. Foley previously worked with Bluetooth wireless technology and other
          wireless technologies as a senior wireless architect with Microsoft, where he
          played a pivotal role in the creation and development of the wireless desktop
          vision and 802.11. Dr. Foley also helped shape the Bluetooth standard from its
          inception, as SIG Board Member, and later Chairman of the Board from 2002 to 2003.