Bluetooth Coming To A Car Near YouBluetooth Coming To A Car Near You

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) said Monday that new cell phone calling and management features will drive adoption of Bluetooth as a standard in automobiles.

The SIG unveiled Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) and improvements to the current Hands-Free Profile (HFP 1.5). Taken together, they will improve calling features and pave the way also for car drivers to use Bluetooth wireless technology to transfer music to stereo systems in cars.

"Though MP3 players presently only use adapters to implement Bluetooth technology, we are seeing an increasing amount of mobile phones with MP3 functionality on the market," said David McClure, an executive at automotive technology consultancy SBD in a statement. "This will further push the need for built-in Bluetooth functionality in cars."

As for PBAP, which makes users' personal phone books easier to access, and HFP, which facilitates the management of calls, the Bluetooth SIG said their increased availability to Bluetooth SIG members will help spur the spread of Bluetooth in new car models. The SIG predicted that embedded Bluetooth car kits should hit the market in 2007.

Currently, in-car Bluetooth technology is offered by several manufacturers including Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, Saab, Toyota and Volkswagen while several wireless manufacturers offer after-market Bluetooth hands-free products.