C4IP is celebrating Jaap Haartsen, whose invention of Bluetooth wireless technology has helped integrate electronic devices seamlessly into our daily lives.
- Haartsen was born in 1963 in The Hague, Netherlands and began his career at Siemens and Phillips before earning his Ph.D. from Delft University and moving to Swedish company Ericsson.
- His first breakthrough in Bluetooth came in 1994, while he was working to develop technology for short-range radio connections.
- After making several improvements to the technology, Ericsson finally applied for a patent for Bluetooth in 1997.
- Haartsen formed the Bluetooth Special Interest Group the following year as a way to coordinate Bluetooth implementation among large electronics companies such as IBM, Nokia, Toshiba, and Intel.
- Their success at establishing a shared standard for Bluetooth technology – which endures today among more than 40,000 companies – is a testament to the effectiveness of the free market in managing the licensing of standard-essential technology patents.
- Haartsen’s invention has become a critical part of modern life: Bluetooth capabilities now appear in 98% of all new speakers as of 2023, 90% of new smartphones by 2027, and 87% of new cars.
- The global market for Bluetooth was estimated at over $4 billion in 2022, with almost 5 billion devices shipped annually, and 6 billion Bluetooth-enabled devices are expected to be shipped annually by 2027.
- Innovative companies continue to develop new applications for Bluetooth – including acting as a key for cars and homes and tracking everyday items.