Bluetooth is firmly established as a short-range wireless solution for voice and data transmission, as 2005 will be the fourth consecutive year in which Bluetooth-enabled product shipments more than double, reports In-Stat. This year's shipments are forecast to be 316 million units, a total that will rise to 866 million in 2009, the high-tech market research firm says.

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"Mobile phones are at the core of Bluetooth's popularity," said Brian O'Rourke, In-Stat analyst. "They are in turn helping Bluetooth penetrate into other products, including notebook PCs, mono and stereo headsets, automobiles, and portable digital music players."

A recent In-Stat report, "Bluetooth 2005: The Future is Here," found the following:

• Bluetooth will need to constantly adapt in the face of competition that includes Wireless USB, Wireless 1394 and Wi-Fi.
• Results from In-Stat's Residential Technology Survey (RTS) of typical U.S. consumers indicates increasing recognition of Bluetooth and significant interest in cordless stereo headsets.
• Chips complying with Bluetooth 2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) are beginning to hit the market in 2005, providing greater bandwidth and lower power consumption.