Wireless Compatibility Approved

A proposal that proponents claim will insure compatibility between Bluetooth and 802.11b
wireless local area networks was confirmed this week by a key unit of the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

The proposal, initially made by Mobilian Corp. and Symbol Technologies, was confirmed by
IEEE’s 802.15.2 Coexistence Task Group as a “recommended practice” by vendors.

The proposal, which the companies say they will publish later this year, describes an intelligent
“traffic cop” to optimize throughput when the two systems are located on the same device. The
system, according to Mobilian and Symbol, virtually eliminates interference.

Bluetooth is an increasingly-accepted short-range wireless technology while 802.11b is widely
used for wireless LANs both in the home and the enterprise. Many analysts have said that
interference with wireless LANs has been one of the factors holding back acceptance of
Bluetooth.

The companies said in a statement that the approval means that chipmakers can implement
technology this year so the two technologies can peacefully co-exist.