Eight mobile technologies to watch

Research company Gartner has published a list of eight mobile technologies that it says will have an impact on mobile strategies and policies over the next couple of years:

1. Bluetooth 3.0,
2. User Interfaces,
3. Location Sensing,
4. 802.11n WiFi,
5. Display Technologies,
6. Mobile Web and Widgets,
7. Mobile Broadband and
8. Near Field Communication.

[Press release]

MMA European Bluetooth guidelines available for comment

The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) has published its European Bluetooth Marketing Guidelines for public comment. [Press release; guidelines]

Android drops some Bluetooth support

Google's latest version of the Android Software Deveopment Kit, which helps people create programs for the forthcoming Android-powered mobile phones, removed some support for Bluetooth and Google's GChat service. Although Android will work with hands-free Bluetooth accessories, the current version now won't let developers incorporate Bluetooth features in their own programs. [Source: InformationWeek.com]

Bluetooth awareness at an all-time high

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has announced that global awareness of Bluetooth technology is at an all-time high. Awareness of Bluetooth technology has risen for the fifth consecutive year, with 85% of consumers now recognising the technology. The survey, which was conducted by research firm Millward Brown, asked around 2,500 consumers in China, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, the US and the UK about Bluetooth technology. In addition, 68% recognised the Bluetooth logo and 79% understood the technology was used on mobile phones. This compares favourably with WiFi, where only 53% of consumers worldwide were aware of the technology. [Press release]

Mobile users not taking security precautions

Online security company F-Secure says over three-quarters of mobile phone users are aware that their mobile devices can be infected by viruses via Bluetooth but don't have any security software. Researchers contacted 1,169 mobile users in January across the USA, Canada, UK, France and Germany. On average, 28% of respondents said they used their mobile device to access the internet, with 86% saying they had no mobile security. The UK was above average for internet access, with 47% of users going online with their mobile device. When it came to security, only 21% of users regarded Bluetooth connections safe and 15% said WiFi connections were safe.

Happy Birthday Bluetooth

Bluetooth wireless technology is 10 years old this week.

Lambeth uses Bluetooth to promote anti-gun campaign

The London borough of Lambeth has launched a new anti-gun campaign that’s sending its message to Bluetooth-enabled phones. The 60-second film can be received by any compatible mobile phone when it passes one of the borough’s special Bluetooth masts. [Source: icSouthLondon.co.uk]