I've long felt that personal area network (PAN) technology was a good idea that had a place in the marketplace, but I've been discouraged by all of the problems Bluetooth was plagued with and the lack of hardware support. Judging by the press stemming from last week's Bluetooth Congress & Expo 2002 in Amsterdam, the momentum could finally be mounting, but its success is long from assured. Issues of education, implementation, usability have yet to be addressed in addition to developer and user adoption -- the ultimate determining factor.
I think it is absurd to think Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (aka 802.11) are on a "collision course" with each other as this Reuters news article suggests. Besides trying to stir up some non-existent controversy, the article also glosses over the more interesting properties of Bluetooth technology to create personal area ad-hoc networks in favor of its more mundane cord replacement usage.
There are certainly similarities and a bit of overlap between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but they are clearly complimentary wireless technologies. Generally speaking, Bluetooth is to peer-to-peer as Wi-Fi is to client-server.
Bluetooth is focused on enabling ad-hoc networks (also called "piconets") of nearby devices in a low powered lightweight low-cost form factor. Unlike infrared beaming made popular by the Palm Pilot, Bluetooth enabled PDAs could transfer files and information without "seeing" each other and at greater distances. More far reaching prototypes include a pen that transfers your writing to a PC. As long as you have two bluetooth enabled devices you can form a network even if its in the middle of desert or on-top of a polar ice cap. (For more in depth technical information on Bluetooth see Embedded.com's "Bluetooth Basics.")
Wi-Fi was designed to provide a wireless alternative to LANs with greater range and capacity (also greater power consumption) by utilizing centralized antennas connected to wired line networks. Interestingly Wi-Fi is also being adapted into a means for community broadband networks and public "hotspots." Irregardless, setting up a Wi-Fi network requires advanced planning and a structured implementation with stationary coverage.
So there is no controversy or "collision course." Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compliment each other by offering contrasting feature sets that enable developers to choose the appropriate means to wireless communication. Though Bluetooth's acceptance is not as assured as Wi-Fi's, I'm hoping the industry moves quickly to establish closer and more seamless ties between the two in the future.
