Has Bluetooth Peaked? I Say, "Yes it has."

I'm currently out at a real estate conference in New York City where around 1000 people who make their living communicating with clients are in attendance. (And one wine guru.)

One difference at this year's conference that I've noticed is less use of bluetooth headsets. At first, this didn't make sense to me since it seems like wireless headsets have many nice advantages for people who essentially live on their phones.

But, after surveying this for a bit, I came to the conclusion that the drop is probably due to a switch to smartphones where SMS and Email are even more effective for communicating with clients.

A review of Google Trends for "bluetooth" shows a search volume peak way back at Christmas 2005:

I've owned bluetooth headsets but using them was never habit forming. I default to SMS, Twitter, and email over actually dialing my phone 98% of the time which means I hardly use my phone as a phone. Because of this, a product that's meant to increase convenience actually becomes a pain to carry around.

Sure, there are plenty of people who are huge bluetooth headset fans. No argument there. But on the whole, it looks like the market has peaked.

Perhaps there are fewer searches, but it appears that there is more "news reference volume." Also, now that the novelty has worn off, I believe the Bluetooth headset has become more of a commodity.

After factoring out the global economic slowdown. I believe that Bluetooth still has legs for market penetration. It's use in stereo devices has not grown due to the slow adoption of the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP).

Interesting point, Tony. Here's another nugget to consider. According to the CTIA (PDF), the average length of a call is at its lowest point since 2000, when cell phone minutes were expensive and used sparingly. Now they're nearly unlimited, yet people are not increasing their talk times.

If talk times are indeed decreasing, talking enabling devices will be a solution to a declining problem.

I agree with you, Ed. I only have to look at my 16 y.o. daughter's phone use to realize that talk times are dropping and texting volume is way up.

There may be a shrinking need for the wireless headset in phone conversations, but as an added input channel in a multitasking world, I'll go out on a limb and forecast an exponential growth curve in overall use.

I'm a big fan of AI (as in "augmented intelligence") and I see the ubiquitous earpiece as a benefit in productivity (e.g., secret service earpieces and music/podcast listening in the cubicle).

If Ray Kurzweil gets his team on it, the earpiece of the future will be a hearing aid, will be location aware, and will translate language on the fly. It will operate as an AI ("artificial intelligence") agent whispering caller ID prompts ("mom calling from her cell) as well as traffic bulletins in your ear.

Personally I'm not a fan of bluetooth headsets (or anything bluetooth) because I always forget to recharge them. So when I need to use it it's always dead. If I do them a try again it'll have to be the solar one.

I've never been a big fan of Bluetooth headsets for phones. They hurt my ear and I could never hear very well or operate them very well for what they were supposed to do.

Alternately, I have a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard which I love. They both work perfectly (for me) and getting rid of the wires which were always too short for my purposes is a godsend.

Back when I needed true mobility and communication (district manager of newspaper circulation) I always used a phone on a lanyard around my neck combined with a wired earpiece/mic combo.

I had a bluetooth earpiece but it would run out of battery, fall out during vigorous activity, had to take my phone out of my pocket to see caller id, didn't handle wind as well...lots of issues.

I think that a small personal tablet style computer for email, text, wireless radio combined with a bluetooth wristwatch/earpiece combo for caller id functions might be interesting.

I think bluetooth has died down because
A. it makes you look like a dork.
B. people are actually starting to realize that cell phone etiquette exists.

You guys really rule.
I am from Nigeria and learning to read in English, give true I wrote the following sentence: "Blank gant chart, while ineffective movements are otherwise presented by the regional amendment, the ire, or top front together wearing the backlot, is set."

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